Cessna A188B accident near Garden City, Texas, August 8, 2007
On August 8, 2007 at about 1:05 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N4827J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Garden City, Texas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the ground equipment while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the power lines along the pilot's application path.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2007 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Garden City, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4827J · no longer on the register · serial 18803770T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A single-engine agricultural airplane collided with a cotton trailer while performing an aerial application flight. The 1,296-hour commercial pilot was maneuvering the airplane to fly under power transmission lines when the airplane collided with a parked cotton trailer, lost directional control, and impacted the ground. The operator reported that the pilot was unable to recall the flight due to a concussion sustained during the accident. The operator further stated that a contributing factor was the fact that the pilot was used to flying a 680-horsepower turbine powered airplane and had recently been assigned a 300-horsepower airplane. An eyewitness reported observing the airplane performing the turn to reverse direction before losing sight of the aircraft prior to impact. Additionally, the eyewitness reported that the engine sounded "normal." There were no reported aircraft anomalies prior to 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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,296 hours in all; 785 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 1,210 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007; 300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Garden City TX at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from MAF, 37 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.