Cessna A188 accident near Arlington, Texas, June 27, 2014
On June 27, 2014 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna A188, registered N8157V, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Arlington, Texas. It was a banner-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 total loss of engine power due to a loose oil filter adapter, which resulted in oil starvation. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s failure to comply with a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directive.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2014 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188, built 1968 · all A188s on the register
- Registration
- N8157V · registry record · serial 188-0407
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was maneuvering the airplane with a banner attached when he noticed a loss of oil pressure. He notified an air traffic controller of the emergency and indicated that he could not reach an airport. The engine then experienced a total loss of power, and the pilot made an emergency landing to a grassy area near a highway interchange. During the landing, the airplane collided with a vehicle, and then another vehicle struck the airplane. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the oil filter adapter was loose, and no oil was observed inside the engine. The threads on the adapter were worn and damaged. The lock nut on the adapter was not properly torqued, and oil residue was observed on the engine near the adapter and on the underside of the airframe. A large amount of metallic debris was found throughout the entire oil filter element, which is consistent with engine oil starvation. Maintenance personnel replaced the oil and oil filter 4 days before the accident; however, they did not comply with Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Directive 96-12-22, which required, in part, inspecting the oil filter and adapter assembly for oil leakage and proper installation of the adapter retaining nut and replacing any oil filter adapter assembly with security problems to prevent loss of engine oil caused by loose or separated oil filter adapters because the loss of oil could result in engine stoppage while in flight and loss of airplane control.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Not serviced/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Replacement › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › Return to service › Not serviced/maintained
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › Scheduled maint checks › Not serviced/maintained
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › Scheduled maint checks › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 26,564 hours in all; 681 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 20,564 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 30, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,136 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors Inc IO-520-D (piston); 5,477 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBD Dallas TX at 8:20 pm
- Destination: RBD Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KGKY, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.