# NTSB MIA02LA143: Cessna A188B, N4723Q, Indianola, MS, August 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 2002, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Indianola, MS - Coordinates: 33.444721, -90.58583 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4447&lon=-90.5858&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 55426 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55426/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA143 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with a transmission wire resulting in the collision and substantial damage. ## 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 - wire,transmission - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis According to the operator, during a spray run of a cotton field, the airplane collided with an unmarked power line. The pilot then immediately landed in the cotton field. The operator also stated that the pilot was familiar with the field he was spraying and thought that the airplane was clear of power lines so he initiated a climb, resulting in the contact. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that approximately 1 foot of the vertical stabilizer and rudder assembly were separated. Additionally, arcing was noted on the right wing lift strut, and the propeller was damaged. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 2002, about 1030 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N4723Q, registered to and operated by Valley Air Applicators, Inc., collided with an unmarked power line during a spray run near Indianola, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1005, from the Indianola Municipal Airport, Indianola, Mississippi. According to the operator, during a spray run of a cotton field, the airplane collided with an unmarked power line. The pilot then immediately landed in the cotton field. The operator also stated that the pilot was familiar with the field he was spraying and thought that the airplane was clear of power lines so he initiated a climb, resulting in the contact. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that approximately 1 foot of the vertical stabilizer and rudder assembly were separated. Additionally, arcing was noted on the right wing lift strut, and the propeller was damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4723Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4723Q-2008-03-12), registration cancelled 2008-03-12, S/N 18802494T, built 1976 (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: 18802494T - Airframe hours: 5553 - Engines: Continental IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Valley Air Applicators, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 20, 2002, 89 hours before - Departed: KIDL, Indianola, MS - Destination: KIDL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 22, 2000; seat: single; flight hours: 20,000 total, 6,020 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KGWO, 25 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 20020802020079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020802020079A), Aug 2, 2002: Cessna A188B, Indianola, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft is an agricultural aircraft. The aircraft struck power lines while performing aerial applications. (.19) on August 2, 2002, about 1030… 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.