Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brawley, California 92227
Wednesday, January 15, 2003 7:55 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After takeoff, the engine started to lose power, and the pilot made a forced landing in an open field. The airplane came to rest in a ditch. The flight was an agricultural application flight and was carrying herbicide at the time of the accident. The engine had accumulated about 17 hours since a factory overhaul, and had been installed on the accident airplane for 2 months prior to the accident. An on-scene inspection of the engine established mechanical and valve train continuity. Investigators obtained thumb compression in firing order. No discrepancies were found during a teardown inspection of the engine and propeller. Bench tests of the fuel and ignition systems revealed operation within specification.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/15/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 755
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City BRAWLEY
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92227
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 330000N
Event Location Longitude 1153000W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 753 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID IPL
Elevation of weather observation facility -56
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16905
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jan 15 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 837
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-SAN-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5638J
NTSB Number LAX03LA070
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model A188A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18800588
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Aug 13 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17.3
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FARM AVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1690
Aircraft Owner City BRAWLEY
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92227
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code WRCG
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City BRAWLEY
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 752
Departure Time Zone PST
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 Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 22 2004 3:43PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --