Cessna A188B accident near Temple, Texas, July 8, 1993
On July 8, 1993 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N4739R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Temple, Texas. 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
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER OBJECT/TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS WERE TAILWINDS AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1993 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Temple, Texas · map
- 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
- N4739R · no longer on the register · serial 18802312T
- 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 OPERATOR AND PILOT REPORTED A TEMPERATURE OF 95 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITH THE WINDS FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 20 KNOTS GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS. THEY FURTHER REPORTED THAT DURING THE LOW TURN AROUND IN THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS OF APPROXIMATELY 3,200 FEET, THE AIRPLANE DID NOT SUSTAIN FLIGHT. THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRPLANE HIT A TREE AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED TO THE CORN FIELD. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE TURN-AROUND WAS NOT PERFORMED AT SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO ALLOW ADEQUATE CLEARANCE.
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: 700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Taylor TX at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.