Cessna T188 N2690J

Summary

On 10 July 2020 at about 19:40 local time, a Cessna T188 registered N2690J, operated by Agratech Inc, was involved in an accident near Dustin, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 July 2020 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Dustin, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Private (PVT)

Coordinates

35.1542, -95.9878

Aircraft

Cessna T188

Registration

N2690J

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Agratech Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20LA271

1 person died.

The pilot’s continued takeoff without ensuring obstacles could be avoided due to his use of a sedating medication, which likely diminished his reaction time and flying performance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting his second aerial application flight of the day. According to a witness, the airplane had been topped off with fuel before the first flight and 165 gallons of chemical just before the accident flight. The witness stated that the airplane became airborne later than he expected. After departure, the airplane angled left from the runway heading and its wingtip impacted a power pole. It then hit power lines and another pole before coming to rest inverted in a draw. A postaccident examination found no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology testing indicated the pilot had the sedating antihistamine diphenhydramine in his blood at the time of the accident. The levels detected were above the therapeutic level for diphenhydramine. Given the pilot’s years of experience and familiarity with the aircraft, it is reasonable to consider that his reaction time and flying performance were diminished due to the use of sedating medication, which resulted in the impact with the power pole.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.