Cessna A-188 accident near Manila, Arkansas, October 4, 1990
On October 4, 1990 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna A-188, registered N503MA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manila, Arkansas (Manila Muni 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE FROM POWER LINES AND THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1990 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Manila, Arkansas · Manila Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A-188 · all A-188s on the register
- Registration
- N503MA · registry record · serial 18801637T
- 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 STRUCK A SMALL ELECTRICAL WIRE DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION SWATH RUN AND THEN CLIMBED TO EVALUATE THE DAMAGE. HE THEN RETURNED TO THE FIELD AND ALMOST STRUCK ADDITIONAL WIRES. DURING WHAT THE PROPERTY OWNER AND WITNESS DESCRIBED AS AN ABRUPT MANEUVER TO AVOID THE POWER LINES CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.
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: 400 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,854 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 1990; 219 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 10-520-26 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: ABC Air Incorporated
The flight
- Departed from: MXA at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from JBR, 24 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.