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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 5, 1999 · Cessna A188B · N731PW

Randalette, OK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 5, 1999
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Randalette, OK
Aircraft
Cessna A188B
Tail Number
N731PW
Operator
Larry Abernathy
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW99LA253

The airplane's right wing contacted a telephone pole when the pilot was blinded by the sun, while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. According to the pilot, the airplane was in a left bank turning towards the east, when the sun 'blinded him.' He added that as he was 'watching thru the satloc, [he] saw one pole pass under [the] right wing, then one under [the] left, so [he] pushed down.' Subsequently, the right wing contacted a third telephone pole, and the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest inverted.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with the telephone pole. A factor was the sunglare.

Full Narrative

On September 5, 1999, at 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 188B agricultural airplane, N731PW, was substantially damaged when it impacted a telephone pole while maneuvering near Randalette, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to Abernathy Spraying Service Inc., of Tipton, Oklahoma, and operated by a private individual. The airline transport rated pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The flight originated from the Tipton Municipal Airport, Tipton, Oklahoma, at 0845. The 20,000-hour pilot reported during a telephone interview, that he was spraying a field 20 nautical miles north of Lawton, Oklahoma, with malathion, a chemical used for the eradication of boll weevils. He was maneuvering the airplane in a left bank turning towards the east, when the sun "blinded him." He added, in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that "watching thru the sat loc, [he] saw one pole pass under [the] right wing, then one under [the] left, so [he] pushed down." Subsequently, the right wing impacted a third telephone pole. The airplane impacted the ground and slid approximately 150 feet, coming to rest inverted on a southerly heading. The operator reported that the right wing separated from the fuselage at the wing root. He added that the engine mount separated from the airframe, and the propeller separated from the crankshaft.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna A188B
Tail NumberN731PW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLarry Abernathy
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-D · Reciprocating · 285
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind30° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time14:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data