Cessna T188C accident near Semmes, Alabama, August 4, 1983
On August 4, 1983 at about 2:22 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N3195J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Semmes, Alabama. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1983 · about 2:22 pm local time
- Place
- Semmes, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3195J · registry record · serial 1188036161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER. THERE WERE 2 SET OF WIRES CROSSING THE AREA, A LOW SET AND A HIGH SET. THE PILOT SUDDENLY CAME UPON THE LOW SET AND CLIMBED OVER THEM BUT COLLIDED WITH THE HIGH SET.THE VERTICAL STABILIZER CAUGHT THE WIRES AND WAS TORN OFF, THE ACFT NOSED INTO A CORN FIELD AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE PLT HAD A MEDICAL LIMITATION FOR VISION REQUIRING CORRECTIVE LENSES. HE WAS COMPLYING WITH THAT REQUIREMENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 11,949 hours in all; 3,200 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,093 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 1983; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Grand Bay AL at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:26 pm from MOB, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.