# NTSB SEA97LA143: Cessna A188, N9766V, Richland, WA, June 17, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 1997, 09:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Richland, WA - Coordinates: 46.250751, -119.28939 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2508&lon=-119.2894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42634 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42634/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA143 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. Inadequate in-flight planning and high obstructions that restricted evasive maneuvers were factors. ## 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 - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor) - evasive maneuver - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had just completed an aerial application spray run and was making a turn to the left when he felt the onset of a stall buffet. High terrain and power lines were nearby. The pilot lost sight of the power lines, and because of the high terrain in the flight path, the pilot chose to continue the left turn to avoid a collision with the power lines. During the turn, the airspeed and altitude continued to decay. The airplane collided with the ground at minimum airspeed and wings level. A postcrash fire ignited and consumed the aircraft. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 1997, approximately 0915 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A188, N9766V, being operated by Eagle Cap Aviation of La Grande, Oregon on a 14 CFR 137 aerial application flight for mosquito control, crashed near Richland, Washington. The aircraft was substantially damaged in the crash and a subsequent fire. The airline transport pilot of the single-seat agricultural aircraft escaped the aircraft without injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and in a subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that he was in the process of applying a granular larvacide (brand name Vectovac) along the Yakima River near a park. The pilot stated that this was his third load of the morning and about half of the load of larvacide had been applied at the time of the accident. The load was being applied to the north side of the river at water level. The terrain on the south side rose steeply to about 300 feet above the river. Power lines ran across the river, and additional power lines were strung east of the park at an elevation of about 75 feet. The pilot stated that he was making a turn southbound at the end of a run. The pilot reported that during the turn, he felt the onset of a "stall buffet." The highest terrain with power lines on top were directly in front of the airplane. The pilot stated that to his left were the power lines that crossed the river, however, he lost sight of those wires, but knew they were close. The pilot stated that he chose to continue the turn to the left and hit the terrain instead of chancing a collision with the wires. During the turn, the airspeed and altitude continued to decay. The airplane collided with the ground at minimum speed and wings level. A post-crash fire ignited and consumed the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident, and felt that turns to the right instead of to the left, might have given him a way out to avoid the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9766V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9766V-2004-09-07), registration cancelled 2004-09-07, S/N 188-0216, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188 - Registry model: [Cessna A188](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188) (registry code 2073004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 188-0216 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Eagle Cap Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 6,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PSC, 7 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 19970617014319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970617014319A), Jun 17, 1997: Cessna A188, Richland, WA, Substantial damage. Crashed during aerial application. 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.