Cessna A188B accident near Patterson, Louisiana, August 10, 1991
On August 10, 1991 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N53276, was substantially damaged in an accident near Patterson, Louisiana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH THE ELECTICAL POWER LINE. FACTORS WERE THE BRIGHT SUN AND CHEMICAL RESIDUE ON THE WINDSHIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1991 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Patterson, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N53276 · no longer on the register · serial T18801731T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE LAST SPRAYING PASS, THE PILOT TURNED WEST TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. AS HE TURNED INTO THE SETTING SUN, THE GLARE AND CHEMICALS ON THE WINDSHIELD PREVENTED HIS VISUAL CONTACT WITH SOME ELECTRICAL POWER LINES. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE POWER LINES AND DESCENDED UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT WAS AWARE OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE POWER LINES IN THE AREA.
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: 2,124 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Blanco Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.