Cessna T188C accident near Heth, Arkansas, August 16, 2004
On August 16, 2004 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N9314J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Heth, Arkansas (Heth Airstrip airport). 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 for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2004 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Heth, Arkansas · Heth Airstrip · 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
- N9314J · no longer on the register · serial T18803794T
- 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 5,002-hour pilot reported that as he advanced the throttle to increase engine power while on final approach for landing, "none was available." The airplane settled within tall grass just short of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane rolled into a 10-15 foot deep gulley and came to rest upright. No anomalies were noted during the examination of the airframe. The engine was successfully run and was found to be free of anomalies. The reason for the loss of engine power 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: 966 hours in all; 966 in this make and model; 230 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 4,967 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,149 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 2, 2004; 116 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Heth AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from AWM, 25 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.