# NTSB FTW99LA253: Cessna A188B, N731PW, Randalette, OK, September 5, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 1999, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Randalette, OK - Coordinates: 34.16967, -98.459083 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1697&lon=-98.4591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47306 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47306/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA253 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with the telephone pole. A factor was the sunglare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application - object - pole - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane's right wing contacted a telephone pole when the pilot was blinded by the sun, while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. According to the pilot, the airplane was in a left bank turning towards the east, when the sun 'blinded him.' He added that as he was 'watching thru the satloc, [he] saw one pole pass under [the] right wing, then one under [the] left, so [he] pushed down.' Subsequently, the right wing contacted a third telephone pole, and the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest inverted. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 1999, at 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 188B agricultural airplane, N731PW, was substantially damaged when it impacted a telephone pole while maneuvering near Randalette, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to Abernathy Spraying Service Inc., of Tipton, Oklahoma, and operated by a private individual. The airline transport rated pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The flight originated from the Tipton Municipal Airport, Tipton, Oklahoma, at 0845. The 20,000-hour pilot reported during a telephone interview, that he was spraying a field 20 nautical miles north of Lawton, Oklahoma, with malathion, a chemical used for the eradication of boll weevils. He was maneuvering the airplane in a left bank turning towards the east, when the sun "blinded him." He added, in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that "watching thru the sat loc, [he] saw one pole pass under [the] right wing, then one under [the] left, so [he] pushed down." Subsequently, the right wing impacted a third telephone pole. The airplane impacted the ground and slid approximately 150 feet, coming to rest inverted on a southerly heading. The operator reported that the right wing separated from the fuselage at the wing root. He added that the engine mount separated from the airframe, and the propeller separated from the crankshaft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731PW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731PW-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N 18803057T, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18803057T - Airframe hours: 5207 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Larry Abernathy - Registered owner: Abernathy Spraying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1999, 329 hours before - Departed: OK26, TIPTON, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 20,000 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LAW, 20 nm away ## 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 19990905026319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990905026319A), Sep 5, 1999: Cessna A188B, Randalette, OK, Substantial damage. (.19) On September 5, 1999, at 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 188B agricultural airplane, was substantially damaged when it impacted a telephone pole… 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.