# NTSB FTW96TA400: Cessna T188C, N9537J, Snyder, TX, September 24, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: September 24, 1996, 14:28 local (19:28 UTC) - Place: Snyder, TX - Coordinates: 32.710365, -100.909042 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7104&lon=-100.9090&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20004 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96TA400 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20004/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96TA400 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a pole resulting in the separation of the left aileron and a loss of aircraft control. A factor was the haze. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - pole - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - flight control,aileron - separation - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During a local aerial application flight maneuver, the pilot, watching for wires at the entrance area to the field, saw the transmission wires, and nosed the airplane over to clear the wires; however, the left wing had 'blanked out a pole and he dove into the pole.' The pilot flew the airplane to the airport and during the landing flare/touchdown, when the power was reduced, he lost control of the airplane and the airplane veered to the left with the left wing striking the ground. The airplane cartwheeled, came to stop in an upright position, and a post impact fire erupted in the area of the engine fuel lines. Witnesses extinguished the fire. The left wing tip, aileron, and several feet of the wing were located adjacent to a downed powerline pole. Paint transfer was found on the pole. Overcast ceilings and haze were report in the area. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 1996, at 1428 central daylight time, a Cessna T188C, N9537J, registered to AAA Flying Service Inc., of McAllen, Texas, and operated by James. R. Davis of Seminole, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 137 contracted as a public use aircraft with the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, Inc., struck a pole while maneuvering near Snyder, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated 1 hour and 18 minutes before the accident. During telephone interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the pilot, operator, and witnesses reported the following information. The weather was overcast with haze in the area. The pilot, watching for wires at the entrance area to the field, saw the transmission wires, and nosed the airplane over to clear the wires; however, the left wing had "blanked out a pole and he dove into the pole." The pilot observed that the left wing was damaged and the left aileron was gone from the airplane. The pilot was able to maintain level flight by applying full right aileron and up elevator as he flew the airplane to the Winston Field Airport at Snyder, Texas. During the landing flare/touchdown on runway 35, the pilot who "thought he had it made and pulled the power off" lost control of the airplane as the power was reduced and the airplane veered to the left with the left wing striking the ground. The airplane cartwheeled, came to stop in an upright position, and a post impact fire erupted in the area of the engine fuel lines. Witnesses extinguished the fire. The FAA inspector and the pilot obtained the flight path from the on board Satloc GPS Guidance System and went to the field where they located the missing left wing components. The left wing tip, aileron, and several feet of the wing were located adjacent to a downed powerline pole. Paint transfer was found on the pole. A review of the maintenance records by the FAA inspector and the investigator-in-charge did not reveal any open discrepancies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9537J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9537J-2005-06-06), registration cancelled 2005-06-06, S/N T18803817T, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T188C - Registry model: [Cessna T188C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t188c) (registry code 2073012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T18803817T - Airframe hours: 2274 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-T 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: James R. Davis - Registered owner: Aaa Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 26, 1996, 219 hours before - Departed: SNK - Airport: SNK, Winston Field, runway 35, 5,599 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 2,200 total, 2,200 as pilot in command, 500 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960924029699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960924029699A), Sep 24, 1996: Cessna T188C, Snyder, TX, Substantial damage. Struck a pole during aerial application, tore off part of left wing and aileron, returned, lost control,cartwheeled (-23) on 09/24/96, at 1419 central daylight… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.