Cessna T188C accident near Spur, Texas, September 27, 1989
On September 27, 1989 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N3382J, was destroyed in an accident near Spur, Texas (Spur Muni 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
PARTIAL POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FARM EQUIPMENT PARKED NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1989 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Spur, Texas · Spur Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3382J · no longer on the register · serial T18803637T
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. HIS AIRCRAFT ROLLED OFF THE END OF THE DIRT RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED COMBINE APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY END. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED BY FAA INSPECTORS. INSPECTED COMPONENTS INCLUDED THE TURBOCHARGER, FUEL STRAINER, FUEL MANIFOLD VALVE, PLUGS, MAGNETOS AND CYLINDER ASSEMBLIES. ALL WERE FOUND TO BE IN GOOD CONDITIONS.
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: 1,800 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,786 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1989; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 62F at 12:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,600 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:52 pm from LBB, 50 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.