Cessna A-188-B accident near Ft.Polk, Louisiana, December 28, 1986
On December 28, 1986 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna A-188-B, registered N49220, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft.Polk, Louisiana (Fort Polk 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
- December 28, 1986 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ft.Polk, Louisiana · Fort Polk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A-188-B · all A-188-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N49220 · no longer on the register · serial 18802657T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
EXAMINATION REVEALED THE TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS BADLY WORN AND ITS SPACERS WERE MISSING, CAUSING THE SWIVEL MECHANISM TO LOCK IN THE OFF CENTER POSITION. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON A NARROW ROAD. IT VEERED SLIGHTLY UPON TAIL WHEEL CONTACT AND WENT OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY WHERE THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED A PINE TREE.
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: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,637 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 2,399 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 1986; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwing Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LA22 Lecompte LA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: Ft. Polk LA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 2,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 pm from AEX, 15 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.