# NTSB MIA94LA011: Cessna AT188B, N731MF, Zellwood, FL, October 24, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 24, 1993, 08:31 local (12:31 UTC)
- Place: Zellwood, FL
- Coordinates: 28.730749, -81.600296 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7307&lon=-81.6003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37450
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37450/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA011

## Probable cause

PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - none suitable (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731MF-2016-11-09), registration cancelled 2016-11-09, S/N 18802995T, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA AT188B
- 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: 18802995T
- Airframe hours: 5077
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19931024040639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931024040639A), Oct 24, 1993: Cessna A188B, Zellwood, FL, Destroyed. Engine quit after takeoff. Landed cross furrows in plowed field. Hit ditch. Nosed over. Power loss undetermined.

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.