Seminole, TX, USA
N4779J
Cessna T188C
After the agricultural airplane departed the private airstrip en route to a field to be sprayed, the engine began to lose power. The pilot stated that the "aircraft seemed to be nose heavy and would not maintain [airspeed] or altitude." The pilot attempted to return to the airstrip; however, he determined that he could not reach the airstrip and initiated a forced landing to a cotton field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a dirt berm and came to rest upright. The pilot did not dispense the chemical load during the loss of airspeed and altitude. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
On October 29, 2002, approximately 1045 central standard time, a Cessna T188C single-engine agricultural airplane, N4779J, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a cotton field following a loss of engine power near Seminole, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight departed from a private airstrip approximately 10 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported that while enroute to a field to be sprayed, the engine began to lose power. The pilot stated that the "aircraft seemed to be nose heavy and would not maintain [airspeed] or altitude." The pilot attempted to return to the airstrip; however, he determined that he could not reach the airstrip and initiated a forced landing to a cotton field. According to an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, during the forced landing, the airplane struck a dirt berm and came to rest upright. The inspector reported the right wing was damaged and the right main landing gear was separated. The inspector reported that the pilot did not attempt to dispense the chemical load during the loss of airspeed and altitude. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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