# NTSB WPR12LA301: Cessna A188B, N4831R, Cheyenne, WY, July 10, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 2012, 07:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Cheyenne, WY - Coordinates: 41.171943, -105.036666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1719&lon=-105.0367&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 3, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84263 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84263/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84263 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA301 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a power line. Contributing to the accident was the sun's glare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Light condition: bright light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an aerial application flight, the pilot was flying eastbound toward the morning sun. Due to the sun glare, the pilot did not see the north-south power line that crossed the airplane's flight path. The airplane subsequently collided with the power line, impacted the ground, and nosed over. The operator stated that the pilot was briefed on the location of the wire and the hazards of flight into sun prior to the flight. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 2012, about 0700 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N4831R, was substantially damaged when it struck a power line and subsequently impacted terrain near Cheyenne, Wyoming. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The airplane was being operated by Circle S Aviation LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. A flight plan had not been filed for the local aerial application flight, which had originated from Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, about 50 minutes before the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. According to the operator, this was the pilot's first season for conducting aerial applications. He was applying a mosquito eradication substance to a river bottom. He was flying eastbound, and the sun was at an altitude of 25.9 degrees and an azimuth of 83.4 degrees east of north. A north-south oriented power line crossed the airplane's flight path. The airplane's right wing struck one of the power line's support poles and its left main landing gear became entangled with two aluminum transmission wires. The airplane impacted the ground, nosed over and came to rest inverted. A postimpact fire consumed the airplane's fuselage and right wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4831R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4831R-2018-01-08), registration cancelled 2018-01-08, S/N 18802350, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18802350 - Year built: 1975 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Circle S Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Circle S Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2012 - Departed: 82V, Pine Bluffs, WY - Destination: 82V, Pine Bluffs, WY - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: center; flight hours: 500 total, 11 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: CYS, 10 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 20120710013719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120710013719A), Jul 10, 2012: Cessna A188B, Cheyenne, WY, Destroyed. On July 10, 2012 at approximately 0710 hrs MDT, N4831R, a Cessna model A188B agwagon aircraft was destroyed after impacting terrain near Cheyenne, WY. The sole… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84263. 748 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 458 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404662&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Cessna Report (item 2, .PDF, 211 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404663&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Cessna Permission to use Report (item 3, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20Permission%20to%20use%20Report-Redacted.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.