# NTSB MKC89LA114: Cessna 188, N9084R, Table Rock, NE, May 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 25, 1989, 20:00 local (May 26, 1989, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Table Rock, NE
- Coordinates: 40.169364, -96.080467 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1694&lon=-96.0805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34793
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89LA114
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34793/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA114

## Probable cause

THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENTS DUE TO OIL STARVATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND ON.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application
  - fluid,oil - starvation (cause)
  - powerplant - disintegrated
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT SAID THAT HE WAS COMPLETING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED ON ROUGH TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENTS DUE TO OIL STARVATION. THE REASON FOR THE OIL STARVATION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE INTERNAL DAMAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9084R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 188
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18802105T
- Airframe hours: 1848
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D23 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Thomas, Charles I.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 1989, 9 hours before
- Departed: NE57, LIBERTY, NE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 17,260 total, 10,000 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890525013209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890525013209A), May 25, 1989: Cessna A188B, Table Rock, NE, Substantial damage. Engine quit near last spray run. Crash landed in rough terrain. Engine suffered catastrophic internal failure.

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.

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