Cessna 188A accident near Idabel, Oklahoma, June 24, 1992
On June 24, 1992 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna 188A, registered N9973G, was destroyed in an accident near Idabel, Oklahoma. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS LACK OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1992 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Idabel, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188A · all 188As on the register
- Registration
- N9973G · no longer on the register · serial 18800773
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SWATH TURNING MANEUVER AN ENGINE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE PILOT IMPACTED TREES AND TERRAIN DURING THE FORCED LANDING. A POST CRASH FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,100 POUNDS OF CHEMICAL AND FUEL. THEY ALSO REPORTED THE TEMPERATURE AS 95 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 2,800 FEET.
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; 55 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,538 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°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.