Cessna A188B accident near Vega, Texas, June 26, 1989
On June 26, 1989 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N4956Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vega, Texas (Oldham County 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 UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION (PROBABLE WHIRLWIND OR SEVERE WIND SHEAR) THAT WAS ENCOUNTERED MOMENTS AFTER LIFT-OFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1989 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Vega, Texas · Oldham County · 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
- N4956Q · no longer on the register · serial 188026907
- 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 HAD OBSERVED ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS (WHIRLWINDS) IN THE AREA, BUT DUE TO THICK VEGETATION ON THE AIRPORT, HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT THESE CONDITIONS EXISTED FOR HIS TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED THIS ENVIRONMENT AT LOW AIRSPEED AT LIFTOFF. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT & THE LEFT WING TIP HIT THE GROUND, THEN THE ACFT CARTWHEELED & WAS DAMAGED.
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: 13,000 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 13,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,421 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1989; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E52 at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.