Cessna T188C accident near Levelland, Texas, September 5, 1989
On September 5, 1989 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N9957J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Levelland, Texas (Levelland airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO A LEAK IN THE LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1989 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Levelland, Texas · Levelland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9957J · no longer on the register · serial T188C03886T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE LEFT WHEEL BRAKE, RESULTING IN A GROUND LOOP. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A PERSISTENT LEAK FROM THE LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. DURING THE GROUND LOOP, THE LEFT WING AND LEFT LANDING GEAR WERE DAMAGED. THE LEFT BRAKE LINE WAS ALSO BROKEN DURING THE GROUND LOOP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH BRAKE FLUID WAS IN THE SYSTEM PRIOR TO 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,485 hours in all; 5,210 in this make and model; 218 in the last 90 days; 13,485 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,898 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 1989; 349 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q24 at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,450 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N9957J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.