Cessna A188B accident near Delta, Colorado, June 24, 1991
On June 24, 1991 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N8278G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delta, Colorado. 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
A TOTAL POWER LOSS DUE TO A RUPTURED FUEL LINE, AND THE INSTALLATION OF AN INCORRECT FUEL LINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1991 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Delta, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8278G · no longer on the register · serial 188012765T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PILOT WAS PULLING UP FROM A SPRAY RUN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A RURAL ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A SIGN AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. POSTACCIDENT ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE FUEL PRESSURE LINE HAD FAILED WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE NUT HAD BEEN OVER TORQUED. THE COPPER FUEL LINE WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED, AND FAILED 63 HOURS LATER. ACCORDING TO THE AIRPLANE MANUFACTURER, A FLEXIBLE STEEL BRAIDED LINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 200 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N8278G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.