Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sumrall, Mississippi 39482
Friday, August 4, 2006 10:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The tail-wheel-equipped agricultural airplane stalled and impacted into a pond during a low altitude turn following a partial loss of engine power. The 1,525-hour commercial pilot had finished spraying a field and was departing the area when a witness observed the engine "pop as it would if the mixture was too lean." The engine then sounded as if it "cleared up" and moments later the airplane turned back towards the witness's location. As the airplane proceeded back towards him, the witness observed the engine running; however, it did not appear to be running at "full throttle." When the airplane was approximately 150-feet AGL, the airplane made a 90-degree turn before it "plunged" nose-first into a pond. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the site, and control continuity was established to the airplane's flight controls. An examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft, connecting rods and connecting rod bearings exhibited thermal and mechanical damage consistent with a lack of lubrication. The number four connecting rod bolt was found completely fractured. The oil sump, which had not been compromised during the accident, was found to contain residual oil. Investigators could not determine the reason for the loss of engine oil.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors were the partial loss of engine power and the low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/4/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Sumrall
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39482
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 312723N
Event Location Longitude 0895400W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID HBG
Elevation of weather observation facility 151
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22377
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 4 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2007 8:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Jackson, Mississippi

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N86188
NTSB Number DFW06LA195
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 A188B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18802008T
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Apr 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 8030
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Steven Sanford
Aircraft Owner Street Address 33 Stevie Sanford Lane
Aircraft Owner City Collins
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39428
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 --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Collins
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1005
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 - aerial application
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 21 2007 8:43AM
User who most recently changed record JOHB
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --