SEA02LA138

Factual narrative

On July 29, 2002, approximately 0720 mountain daylight time a Cessna T188C "Ag Husky," N2802J, registered to Taylor Aviation, Inc., and being flown by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing following a loss of power while turning base at the Choteau airport, Choteau, Montana. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was engaged in dispensing insecticide, was operated under 14 CFR 137, and originated from Fort Benton, Montana, approximately 0500. The operator reported that he and the pilot of N2802J departed Fort Benton about dawn in separate Cessna 188 aircraft with full fuel tanks. The two aircraft flew to Fairfield, Montana, to execute a spray mission (approximately 56 nautical miles) and then to the west side of Bynum Reservoir, Montana, to execute their final spray mission (approximately 29 nautical miles). They then proceeded to Choteau (approximately 16 nautical miles) with the operator leading and N2802J slightly behind (refer to CHART I). The pilot reported that while turning base for runway 23 he lost power. He activated the emergency boost pump and regained partial power briefly before losing all power. During his forced landing he touched down hard and crossed a road before coming to rest approximately 1,000 feet short of the threshold for runway 23. The pilot later reported (refer to NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he departed with full fuel tanks (54 gallons). The Cessna T188C Information Manual indicates that there is one gallon of unusable fuel in each of the two fuel tanks and the Performance Specifications page (refer to Attachment FI-I) indicates that the range of the aircraft at 6,500 feet above sea level and 75% power is 250 miles or 2.1 hours. An Inspector assigned to the Federal Aviation Administration's Helena, Montana, Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft shortly after the accident and found no fuel at either wing tank's quick drain. Two additional inspectors examined the aircraft in greater detail the day following the accident and reported extracting a total of approximately 7-8 ounces of fuel from the aircraft's fuel tanks and fuel system (refer to Attachment IS-I). The pilot departed his airport of origination approximately 0500 in the Cessna T188C "Ag Husky" with 52 gallons of usable fuel and flew 56 nautical miles to his first agricultural spray site. After dispensing insecticide he proceeded 29 nautical miles on to the next dispensing site and then flew 16 nautical miles to his next intended refueling point. On short final the engine lost power and the pilot executed a hard forced landing short of runway 23 approximately 0720. Post-crash examination by FAA inspectors revealed a total of 7-8 ounces of fuel aboard the aircraft. Specifications within the T188C Information Manual indicated that the range of the aircraft at 6,500 feet above sea level and 75% power is 250 miles or 2.1 hours. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12