Cessna T188C accident near Paulina, Louisiana, August 12, 1991
On August 12, 1991 at about 6:42 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N3493J, was destroyed in an accident near Paulina, Louisiana. 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 ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT FOR THE WIRES AND HIS MISJUDGING CLEARANCE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO FLY UNDER THE WIRES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1991 · about 6:42 pm local time
- Place
- Paulina, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3493J · no longer on the register · serial T18803645T
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE FLEW HIS FIRST PASS OF THE SWATH RUN FROM THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH AND TURNED FOR HIS SECOND PASS. DURING THE SECOND PASS, THE PILOT SPOTTED WIRES STRUNG ACROSS THE FIELD AT ABOUT THE MID-POINT AND ATTEMPTED TO FLY UNDER THEM. THE WIRES CAUGHT ON THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND IT IMPACTED IN THE SUGAR CANE FIELD. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD SPRAYED THAT FIELD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HE WAS AWARE OF THE WIRES.
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: 7,080 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 393 in the last 90 days; 167 in the last 30 days; 7,025 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,331 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 1991; 389 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gulf Aire Enterprises, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Vacherie LA at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 75°F (24°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.
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.