# NTSB SEA02LA138: Cessna T188C, N2802J, Choteau, MT, July 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 2002, 07:20 local (13:20 UTC) - Place: Choteau, MT - Coordinates: 47.828609, -112.156944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8286&lon=-112.1569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Helena FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55322 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55322/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55322 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA138 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inattention to fuel consumption (flight duration) which resulted in a total loss of power and subsequent hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - fuel consumption calculations - inattentive, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot departed his airport of origination approximately 0500 in the Cessna T188C "Ag Husky" with 52 gallons of usable fuel and flew 56 nautical miles to his first agricultural spray site. After dispensing insecticide he proceeded 29 nautical miles on to the next dispensing site and then flew 16 nautical miles to his next intended refueling point. On short final the engine lost power and the pilot executed a hard forced landing short of runway 23 approximately 0720. Post-crash examination by FAA inspectors revealed a total of 7-8 ounces of fuel aboard the aircraft. Specifications within the T188C Information Manual indicated that the range of the aircraft at 6,500 feet above sea level and 75% power is 250 miles or 2.1 hours. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 2002, approximately 0720 mountain daylight time a Cessna T188C "Ag Husky," N2802J, registered to Taylor Aviation, Inc., and being flown by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing following a loss of power while turning base at the Choteau airport, Choteau, Montana. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was engaged in dispensing insecticide, was operated under 14 CFR 137, and originated from Fort Benton, Montana, approximately 0500. The operator reported that he and the pilot of N2802J departed Fort Benton about dawn in separate Cessna 188 aircraft with full fuel tanks. The two aircraft flew to Fairfield, Montana, to execute a spray mission (approximately 56 nautical miles) and then to the west side of Bynum Reservoir, Montana, to execute their final spray mission (approximately 29 nautical miles). They then proceeded to Choteau (approximately 16 nautical miles) with the operator leading and N2802J slightly behind (refer to CHART I). The pilot reported that while turning base for runway 23 he lost power. He activated the emergency boost pump and regained partial power briefly before losing all power. During his forced landing he touched down hard and crossed a road before coming to rest approximately 1,000 feet short of the threshold for runway 23. The pilot later reported (refer to NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he departed with full fuel tanks (54 gallons). The Cessna T188C Information Manual indicates that there is one gallon of unusable fuel in each of the two fuel tanks and the Performance Specifications page (refer to Attachment FI-I) indicates that the range of the aircraft at 6,500 feet above sea level and 75% power is 250 miles or 2.1 hours. An Inspector assigned to the Federal Aviation Administration's Helena, Montana, Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft shortly after the accident and found no fuel at either wing tank's quick drain. Two additional inspectors examined the aircraft in greater detail the day following the accident and reported extracting a total of approximately 7-8 ounces of fuel from the aircraft's fuel tanks and fuel system (refer to Attachment IS-I). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2802J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2802J), registered now, S/N T18803515T, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T188C - Registry model: [Cessna T188C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t188c) (registry code 2073012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T18803515T - Airframe hours: 8089 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-T 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Taylor Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 3, 2002, 241 hours before - Departed: 79S, Ft. Benton, MT - Destination: CII - Airport: CII, Choteau, runway 23, 3,800 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 4, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 1,350 total, 165 in this make and model, 1,215 as pilot in command, 123 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: GTF, 38 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 20020729018489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020729018489A), Jul 29, 2002: Cessna T188C, Choteau, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated engine failed on base leg to landing. ## Other investigations on N2802J (2) 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 CEN25FA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA273), Jul 22, 2025: Cessna T188C (N2802J), Oregon, IL, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing - [NTSB DEN89LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA172), Jul 7, 1989: Cessna T188C (N2802J), Fort Benton, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACHING BOLTS FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 10, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55322. 634 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 292 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464632&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Chart I (item 2, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Chart%20I-Master.PDF - Attachment FI-I (item 3, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180227&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Attachment%20FI-I-Master.PDF - Attachment IS-I (item 4, .PDF, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Attachment%20IS-I-Master.PDF 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.