Cessna T188C accident near Colorado City, Texas, August 20, 2003
On August 20, 2003 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N3872J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colorado City, Texas. 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 failure of the crankshaft. A contributing factor was low altitude flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2003 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Colorado City, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3872J · no longer on the register · serial 03679
- 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 2,910-hour pilot reported that while maneuvering to return to a field he was performing aerial application on, the engine lost power. The pilot added that he saw three sets of power lines directly in front of his position and pitched up to avoid hitting them. As the airplane crossed over of the third set of power lines, "the airplane stalled" and impacted terrain in a "left wing and nose low" attitude. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured at the cheek for the number two cylinder. A metallurgical examination of performed on the crankshaft revealed that a fracture initiated from at least two distinct origins in the fillet between the number 3 cheek and number 2 main journal, with beach marks throughout. The edge of the fractured surface was smeared. The reason for the failure of the crankshaft was undetermined.
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: 2,910 hours in all; 372 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 2,880 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 20, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,148.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T88 Colorado City TX at 12:30 pm
- Destination: Colorado City
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 1:06 pm from SWW, 23 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.