# NTSB MIA97LA027: Cessna A188B, N53319, Ocilla, GA, November 20, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 20, 1996, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Ocilla, GA - Coordinates: 31.590017, -83.239768 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5900&lon=-83.2398&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 5, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38179/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA027 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations and failure to ensure the aircraft contained an adequate amount of fuel to complete the flight, which resulted in loss of engine power because of fuel exhaustion. Uneven terrain in the emergency landing area was a related factor. ## Analysis The pilot stated he departed with about 30 gallons of fuel. After about 2 hours of flight, the engine lost power. The pilot made a forced landing in a rough field, and the aircraft nosed over. Postcrash examination revealed that the aircraft did not contain any usable fuel, and there was no evidence of fuel leakage. The engine fuel injector manifold did not contain fuel, and there was no evidence of fuel system blockage or malfunction. Fuel was added to a wing tank, and the engine was started and operated to full power with no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. Continental Engine representatives indicated that the engine consumed up to 18 gallons of fuel per hour. ## Factual narrative On November 20, 1996, about 1110 eastern standard time, a Cessna A188B, N53319, registered to individuals, crashed while making a forced landing following loss of engine power at Ocilla, Georgia, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Ocilla, Georgia, the same day, about 0910. The pilot stated to an FAA inspector that he had been flying for about 2 hours and that he had about 30 gallons of fuel at departure. While returning to his strip after chemical application, the engine sputtered and quit. While making a forced landing in a rough field the aircraft nosed over. Postcrash examination of the crash site by FAA inspectors showed that there was no fuel in the aircraft and no evidence of fuel leakage from the aircraft. There was no fuel in the fuel manifold valve. There was no evidence of fuel line blockage or fuel system malfunction. The engine was started and operated to full power with no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. A representative of Continental Engines stated the engine consumes about 17 to 18 gallon per hour at 2,500 rpm and 25 inches of manifold pressure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53319](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53319), registered now, S/N 18801758T (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18801758T - Airframe hours: 3326 - Engines: Continental I0-520-D23 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Ronald L. Harper, doing business as Harpers Dusting Service - Registered owner: Jackie R. Frost - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 6, 1996, 206 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 12,700 total, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ABY, 50 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 19961120036219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961120036219A), Nov 20, 1996: Cessna A188B, Ocilla, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed during aerial application due to engine failure. ## Other investigations on N53319 (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA78DKQ31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78DKQ31), Aug 12, 1978: Cessna 188 (N53319), Water Valley, MS, substantial damage 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.