History of Flight
On July 10, 2020, at approximately 1440 central daylight time (CDT), a Cessna T188C (registration N2690J) was substantially damaged during an accident near Dustin, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight.
According to a witness—another company pilot—the airplane had taken on a load of about 165 gallons of herbicide and began its takeoff run. After departing, the airplane impacted a utility pole with its wingtip, then struck power lines and another pole before coming to rest inverted in a draw. The witness noted that the airplane became airborne later than expected.
Aircraft Information
The FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet lists the maximum gross weight of the Cessna 188 series airplanes as 3,300 lbs. However, a note in the document allows higher gross weights when operating in restricted category: up to 3,800 lbs for the 188 Series and up to 4,400 lbs for the T188C Series (specific serial numbers).
Meteorological Information
The density altitude at the time of the accident was computed to be 2,892 ft MSL.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The right fiberglass wingtip first impacted a utility pole located about 1,000 ft from the departure end of the turf runway, just above the bottom power wire. The wingtip then separated from the wing. Small wood fragments from the pole were found embedded under rivet heads on the outboard wingtip rib. After striking the first pole and wires, the airplane hit a second pole and traveled approximately 180 ft before impacting the terrain inverted. The fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage.
Additional Information
Weight and Balance
The witness reported that the airplane was loaded with about 165 gallons of pre-emergent weed control, and the fuel tanks had been topped off (52 gallons) before the previous flight. The weight of the chemical was estimated at 8 lbs per gallon (similar to water). The airplane had an empty weight of about 2,214 lbs and a maximum takeoff weight of 4,200 lbs. The combined weight of the empty airplane (2,214 lbs), chemical (1,320 lbs), fuel (312 lbs), and pilot (169 lbs) totaled approximately 4,015 lbs.
Medical and Pathological Information
Toxicology testing detected diphenhydramine in the pilot’s femoral blood at 226 ng/mL and in urine. Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine (commonly marketed as Benadryl) available over the counter. The therapeutic range is 25 to 100 ng/mL, and the medication carries a warning that use may impair mental and/or physical ability required for hazardous tasks. Additionally, tamsulosin, a non-sedating medication, was detected in the pilot’s cavity blood and urine.