Cessna A188B accident near Washita, Oklahoma, April 6, 1992
On April 6, 1992 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N70321, was substantially damaged in an accident near Washita, Oklahoma. 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
THE FAILURE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR DURING THE FORCED LANDING DUE TO CORROSION AND FATIGUE. A FACTOR WAS THE POWER LOSS DUE TO A FRACTURED CRANKSHAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 1992 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Washita, Oklahoma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N70321 · no longer on the register · serial 188-01885T
- 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 EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER LOSS WHILE EN ROUTE DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. HE SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED IN A WHEAT FIELD. DURING THE ROLL OUT, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A RISE IN THE TERRAIN AND BOTH MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEELS SEPARATED FROM THE STRUTS. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED CORROSION ON THE INSIDE WALLS OF THE STRUTS AND EVIDENCE OF PRE-EXISTING CRACKS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 16,639 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 16,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,633 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1991; 140 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Eakly OK at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.