Cessna A188B accident near Fabens, Texas, May 16, 2003
On May 16, 2003 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N478RD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fabens, Texas (Fabens airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance. The pilot's attempt to avoid an obstacle was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2003 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fabens, Texas · Fabens · 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
- N478RD · no longer on the register · serial 18802609
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The tailwheel-equipped airplane drifted off the right side of the 4,200 feet long, 60 feet wide asphalt runway during the landing roll. The 1,100-hour pilot attempted to go around. During the attempt to go around, the airplane struck the top of a sand dune with the main landing gear. The pilot attempted to avoid a hill directly in front of him and attempted to turn the airplane to the left. Subsequently, the airplane struck a second sand dune with the main landing gear and tailwheel and landed hard coming to rest upright. The pilot reported the wind was from approximately 340 degrees at 5 knots 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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 980 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 11, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,766.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 2003; 10 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: E35 Fabens TX at 8:30 pm
- Destination: E35 Fabens TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from ELP, 21 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.