- Date
- October 24, 1993, 08:31 local (12:31 UTC)
- Place
- Zellwood, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N731MFCessna AT188B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931024040639A
- Case key
- 37450
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The commercial pilot leveled off at 200 feet AGL and reduced throttle to cruise power. The power came back to idle RPM, the pilot immediately applied full throttle; however, the power remained at idle RPM. A forced landing was made straight ahead to unsuitable terrain. On touchdown the main landing gear separated after colliding with furrows running perpendicular to the landing area. The airplane continued forward, struck a ditch and nosed over. Examination of the airplane wreckage by the FAA failed to reveal the reason for the partial loss of engine power.
Factual narrative
On October 24, 1994, at about 0831 eastern daylight time, a Cessna AT188B, N731MF, registered to AG Care Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, experienced a partial loss of engine power in cruise flight. The commercial pilot conducted a forced landing to unsuitable terrain and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a private grass strip in the vicinity of Zellwood, Florida, about 1 minute before the accident.
The pilot-in-command stated to the NTSB investigator-in- charge, that he departed Longscott Airport from runway 36 at about 08:30. Upon reaching 200 feet agl, he reduced the throttle to cruise power and made a crosswind turn. The power came back to idle rpm, the pilot immediately applied full throttle; however the power remained at idle rpm. A forced landing was made straight ahead. On touchdown, the main landing gear separated after colliding with furrows running perpendicular to the landing direction. The airplane continued forward, struck a ditch, and nosed over.
Examination of the airplane wreckage by the FAA revealed no determination for the partial loss of engine power could be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N731MF
- Reported as
- Cessna AT188B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18802995T
- Airframe hours
- 5,077
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D32B, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Ag Care Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 8, 1993 · 327 hours before
- Destination
- 80X
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 38,000 total · 5,500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MCO, 15 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.