# NTSB SEA93LA132: Cessna T-188C, N9952J, Augusta, MT, June 17, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 1993, 09:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Augusta, MT - Coordinates: 47.580085, -112.599533 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5801&lon=-112.5995&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 17, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41717 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41717/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA132 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND TERRAIN CLEARANCE WHILE MANEUVERING ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT MADE AN AERIAL APPLICATION SWATH RUN TOWARD RISING TERRAIN, INITIATED A TURN AROUND MANEUVER, DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION TO KEEPING THE SPRAYING AREA IN SIGHT AND THE ACFT LOST AIRSPEED. HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO DUMP THE CHEMICALS BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUMP THE LOAD BEFORE THE ACFT IMPACTED A HILL. ## Factual narrative On Thursday morning, June 17, 1993, at 0940 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T-188C, N9952J, operated by Lohse flying Service, impacted the ground 14 miles southeast of Augusta, Montana, while maneuvering. There was no flight plan filed for the local aerial application flight, conducted under 14 CFR 137 in visual meteorological conditions, that departed Augusta, Montana on June 17, 1993, at 0925. The commercial certificated pilot suffered minor injuries in the accident and the aircraft was substantially damaged. A post impact fire was extinguished by the pilot. The pilot reported he was making a swath run toward rising terrain, lost sight of the marking flag, and got off course from the last spray pass, causing a skip in the spray coverage. He said he pulled up, started a left turn, trying to keep sight of the field where he left off and noticed he was losing airspeed. He indicated he immediately applied full power, lowered the nose to gain airspeed and continued turning away from the rising terrain. He said he attempted to dump the chemicals to lighten the load but was not able to dump the load before the aircraft impacted a small hill. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9952J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9952J-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N T18803881T, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T-188C - 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: T18803881T - Airframe hours: 1605 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-T 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Lohse Flying Service - Registered owner: Lohse Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 26, 1993, 349 hours before - Destination: 3U5 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,705 total, 281 in this make and model, 1,586 as pilot in command, 290 in the last 90 days, 128 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GTF, 33 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 19930617019239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930617019239A), Jun 17, 1993: Cessna T188C, Augusta, MT, Substantial damage. Swath run towards rising terrain. Checked alignment failed check airspeed stall mush. Hit hill prior load dump. ## Other investigations on N9952J (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 DEN84LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA197), Jun 25, 1984: Cessna T188C (N9952J), Philip, SD, 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.