Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clinton, Oklahoma 73601
Friday, May 11, 2007 12:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

As the agricultural pilot was pulling up from a low level pass, he smelled something "like wires burning" and observed the engine's fuel pressure drop. The pilot selected the auxiliary fuel pump's "EMERGENCY" position and five to ten seconds later the engine lost partial power. Not able to maintain altitude, the pilot elected to land the airplane to a rolling wheat field. During landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. An examination of the airplane revealed that, prior to impact, the engine exhaust stack had separated from the muffler. Hot exhaust gasses, that are normally vented overboard, were directed to the airplanes firewall, resulting in thermal damaged to electrical wiring and a vapor condition in the fuel gascolator. The pilot attempted to purge the vapor to no avail. No other pre impact anomalies were noted with the engine or the fuel system that would have prevented normal operating power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Separation of the exhaust stack and resulting vapor lock. A contributing factor was the none suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/11/2007
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1250
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Clinton
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 73601
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 353212N
Event Location Longitude 0985450W
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 1155 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID CLK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1615
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23403
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date May 11 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 30 2008 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4413Q
NTSB Number DFW07LA108
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 18800813
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
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 Mar 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5678
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Chad Wright
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 301
Aircraft Owner City Clinton
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 73601
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 CLK
Departure City Clinton
Departure State OK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1157
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 Apr 3 2008 2:56PM
User who most recently changed record GAMW
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 --