Cessna A188B accident near Kinta, Oklahoma, May 15, 2003
On May 15, 2003 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N4931R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kinta, Oklahoma. 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 loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to supervise the refueling of the aircraft and failure to use his before takeoff checklist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2003 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Kinta, Oklahoma · 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
- N4931R · registry record · serial 18802448T
- 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 pilot taxied out and departed the private airstrip to perform an aerial application on a field 25 miles southwest the airstrip. Approximately one hour into the aerial application flight the pilot noticed the "fuel gauges indicated empty." The pilot terminated the aerial application spray run and started a "gentle climb" to gain altitude. The engine started to "sputter and cough", and he initiated an "engine out" landing in the field he was spraying. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear "fell into a small gully" approximately 3 feet deep. Subsequently, the right wing and horizontal stabilizer impacted the ground. The pilot stated that during the aircraft servicing operations prior to takeoff, "the aircraft was not properly fueled as per the pilot's instruction."
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: 4,993 hours in all; 3,397 in this make and model; 235 in the last 90 days; 130 in the last 30 days; 7,948 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 10, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,598 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 10, 2002; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720 A/B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Webbers Falls OK at 6:20 pm
- Destination: Kenta OK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
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.