# NTSB MIA00LA256: Cessna T188C, N9566J, Furman, SC, August 31, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 2000, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Furman, SC - Coordinates: 32.680385, -81.179527 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6804&lon=-81.1795&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50140 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA256 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50140/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA256 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure the aircraft contained adequate fuel to complete the flight resulting in loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and damage to the aircraft during the subsequent forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The pilot stated that at about 1045, while spraying, he smelled fuel in the cockpit. He initiated a climb out of the field and at 100 feet the engine lost power. He made a right turn toward a small clearing and set up for an emergency landing. The aircraft cleared power lines and a highway before impacting rough terrain at a slightly nose down attitude. The aircraft then skidded about 50 feet and came to rest. The pilot stated he last refueled the aircraft on August 28, 2000, and that he did not physically check the fuel prior to the flight. He also stated he had no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft. Postcrash examination of the aircraft and accident scene by an FAA inspector showed there was no signs of fuel in the aircraft and no signs of fuel leakage from the aircraft before or after the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 2000, about 1045 eastern daylight time, a Cessna T188C, N9566J, registered to and operated by Stricks Air Care, Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, crashed while attempting a forced landing following loss of engine power near Furman, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from Garnett, South Carolina, the same day, about 1005. The pilot stated that at about 1045, while spraying, he smelled fuel in the cockpit. He initiated a climb out of the field and at 100 feet the engine lost power. He made a right turn toward a small clearing and set up for an emergency landing. The aircraft cleared power lines and a highway before impacting rough terrain at a slightly nose down attitude. The aircraft then skidded about 50 feet and came to rest. The pilot stated he last fueled the aircraft on August 28, 2000, and that prior to the accident flight he did not physically check the fuel level. The pilot stated he did not have any mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft. Postcrash examination of the aircraft and crash site by an FAA inspector showed there was no sign of fuel in the aircraft, or fuel stains on the aircraft. There was no odor of fuel or signs of fuel on the ground in the area of the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9566J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9566J-2001-09-14), registration cancelled 2001-09-14, S/N T18803822T (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T188C - Registry model: [Cessna T188C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t188c) (registry code 2073012) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T188038227 - Airframe hours: 6000 - Engines: Continental TSI520 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Stricks Air Care Inc. - Registered owner: Christopher L. Strickland - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: SC12, GARNETT, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 4,322 total, 907 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SAV, 24 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 20000831004609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000831004609A), Aug 31, 2000: Cessna T188C, Furman, SC, Substantial damage. On August 1, 2000, at approximately 10:45 a.m. local time, N9566J was operated by christopher strickland who was dispensing economic poisons. N9566J appeared… 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.