Cessna A188B accident near El Campo, Texas, April 18, 1983
On April 18, 1983 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N4876R, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Campo, Texas (Coastal 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 1983 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- El Campo, Texas · Coastal · 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
- N4876R · no longer on the register · serial 18802395T
- 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 SAID THAT AS THE ACFT WAS TURNING FINAL FLAPS WERE EXTENDED TO 20 DEGREES AND THE ANGLE OF BANK WAS INCREASED RESULTING IN AN INCREASED RATE OF DESCENT. HE ADDED POWER TO CORRECT HIS DESCENT RATE BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. PUMPING THE THROTTLE AND ENGAGING THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP DID NOT RESTORE POWER. THE ACFT IMPACTED A LAND FILL SHORT OF THE RWY AND SLID ONTO THE RWY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,585 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,100 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 2 knots, gusting 3
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.