Cessna A-188B accident near Branch, Louisiana, June 16, 1983
On June 16, 1983 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna A-188B, registered N53303, was substantially damaged in an accident near Branch, Louisiana (Mid South Flying Service 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
- June 16, 1983 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Branch, Louisiana · Mid South Flying Service · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A-188B · all A-188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N53303 · no longer on the register · serial 18801745T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ACFT WAS USING A LONGER THAN NORMAL TAKEOFF ROLL WHILE TAKING OFF WITH THE LAST LOAD OF THE DAY. WHEN HE REALIZED IT WAS TOO LATE TO ABORT, HE DUMPED HIS LOAD & CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF. THE LANDING GEAR WENT THRU A FENCE AT THE END OF THE RWY. HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTINUED FLYING IN GROUND EFFECT UNTIL IT CAME TO A DIRT BANK. THE MAIN GEAR HIT THE DIRT BANK & THE PLANE CRASHED. THE PLT BELIEVED HE HAD ENCOUNTERED A WIND-SHIFT FROM A SCATTERED RAIN SHOWER THAT COME OVER THE ARPT FROM THE NORTHEAST, ABOUT 5 MIN AFTER 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: 1,634 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 1,575 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,852 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 9, 1983; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.