Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hooper, Utah 84315
Thursday, May 30, 1996 7:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that while maneuvering for an aerial application run at about 100 feet above ground level, the airplane started to sink and that he added power, but the engine did not respond. The pilot attempted to avoid obstructions, but the airplane subsequently struck a fence and crashed into a cultivated area. Witnesses reported 'sputter', 'back fire [sic]', and 'cutting in and out' noises from the engine. Postaccident examination revealed little to no damage to the three propeller blades. The pilot reported that he took off with full fuel and that the accident occurred 10 minutes after takeoff. Fuel was found in one of the two interconnected main tanks at the crash scene; the other main tank was empty, but the wing containing that tank was substantially damaged. In a postaccident test run, the engine operated successfully with normal fuel pressure and turbocharger operation, after the electric boost pump was primed. After the boost pump was subsequently turned off, the engine continued to run normally, using the engine-driven fuel pump.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). A factor relating to the accident was: the proximity of obstructions, which limited the pilot's ability to reach a suitable emergency landing area.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/30/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 745
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City HOOPER
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84315
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 4533
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 944
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 30 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 815
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:01AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9980J
NTSB Number SEA96LA102
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model T188C
Aircraft Series Identifier T188C
Aircraft Serial Number T1880390T
Certified Max Gross Weight 4200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 22 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 1714
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GERALD K. MARTIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1113 E. BROOKHAVEN
Aircraft Owner City KAYSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84037
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT L. MCPHIE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 315 E. 300 N.
Operator City HEBER
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84032
Operator Code GM7G
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OGD
Departure City OGDEN
Departure State UT
Departure Country
Departure Time 735
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --