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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

August 4, 1987 · Cessna 188 · N3530Q

Valley City, ND

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 4, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Valley City, ND
Aircraft
Cessna 188
Tail Number
N3530Q
Operator
Lon E Sinness
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN87DTG01

THE PLT RPRTD THE ENG LOST PWR DRG A SWATH RUN & THE ACFT WAS DMGD DRG A FORCED LNDG IN A FIELD OF MATURE SUNFLOWERS. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS & THE GASCOLATER CONTAINED FUEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENG WAS STARTED AT THE ACDNT SITE & IT RAN NORMALLY TO 1000 RPM, BUT WAS NOT OPERATED AT A HIGHER RPM DUE TO A BENT PROP. THE OWNER- OPERATOR RPRTD THAT ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, FUEL FED FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK FASTER THAN FROM THE RIGHT, WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE ON POSITION. ALSO, HE RPRTD THAT ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, THE BLADDER LINERS OF THE FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND TO BE UNSNAPPED & APPEARED TO HAVE COLLAPSED; BUT RPRTDLY, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN OTHER THAN TO REATTACH THE BLADDERS.

Full Narrative

THE PLT RPRTD THE ENG LOST PWR DRG A SWATH RUN & THE ACFT WAS DMGD DRG A FORCED LNDG IN A FIELD OF MATURE SUNFLOWERS. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS & THE GASCOLATER CONTAINED FUEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENG WAS STARTED AT THE ACDNT SITE & IT RAN NORMALLY TO 1000 RPM, BUT WAS NOT OPERATED AT A HIGHER RPM DUE TO A BENT PROP. THE OWNER- OPERATOR RPRTD THAT ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, FUEL FED FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK FASTER THAN FROM THE RIGHT, WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE ON POSITION. ALSO, HE RPRTD THAT ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, THE BLADDER LINERS OF THE FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND TO BE UNSNAPPED & APPEARED TO HAVE COLLAPSED; BUT RPRTDLY, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN OTHER THAN TO REATTACH THE BLADDERS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 188
Tail NumberN3530Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLon E Sinness
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 42 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

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Appendix: Source Data