Accident Cessna A188B N4463Q, Monday 18 July 1983

You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.

Date:	Monday 18 July 1983
Time:	22:10 LT
Type:	Cessna A188B
Owner/operator:	Ben-co Cstm. Aerial Applicator
Registration:	N4463Q
MSN:	18800863
Total airframe hrs:	3461 hours
Engine model:	Continental IO-520-D9
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Calipatria, CA - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:	Calipatria, CA (KCLR)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE ACFT MADE A HARD LANDING IN A COTTON FIELD DURING A CROP DUSTING OPERATION AFTER BUFFETING WAS FELT IN A TURN. THE PILOT THOUGHT HE WAS STALLING IN VORTEX TURBULENCE FROM ANOTHER ACFT IN FRONT OF HIM. A TOXIC LOAD OF SUPRECIDE WAS DUMPED BEFORE THE PILOT LANDED IN THE COTTON FIELD. THE PILOT ALSO SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH SOME POWER WAS AVAILABLE THE POWER DID NOT INCREASE WHEN HE ADDED MORE THROTTLE. HE STATED THAT HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN THE LEVEL FIELD. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED VALVE TRAIN CONTINUITY, THE MAGNETOS SPARKED, AND DIFFERENTIAL COMPRESSION WAS GOOD THERE NO FUEL CONTAMINATION. NO CONDITIONS WERE FOUND THAT WOULD PREVENT NORMAL OPERATION OF THE ENGINE.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: