Accident Cessna 188 N9302K, Sunday 6 November 1983

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Date:	Sunday 6 November 1983
Time:	19:50 LT
Type:	Cessna 188
Owner/operator:	Ag Rotor
Registration:	N9302K
MSN:	03929T
Total airframe hrs:	474 hours
Engine model:	Continental TSIO-520
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Needles, CA - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE TOOK OFF APRX 10 TO 15 MIN AFTER SUNSET ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLT. DURING A TURN TO BEGIN A SWATH RUN, HE NOTICED AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE IN DRIFT. AS HE WAS DESCENDING BELOW THE LEVEL OF NEARBY POWER LINES, THERE WAS A LOSS OF INDICATED AIRSPEED & THE ACFT BEGAN TO SETTLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE GEAR STRUCK THE LIP OF A RAISED CONCRETE IRRIGATION DITCH & THE ACFT CRASHED. THE PLT REPORTED INDICATIONS OF A TEMPERATURE INVERSION & WIND SHEAR NEAR THE SURFACE. REPORTEDLY, THE ENG WAS OPERATING NORMALLY.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: