Cessna T188C accident near New Deal, Texas, October 3, 1993
On October 3, 1993 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N2031J, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Deal, Texas. 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN GROUND CLEARANCE WHILE AVOIDING A POWERLINE. FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE A SECOND SET OF POWER LINES PRIOR TO INITIATING THE SPRAYING RUN WAS ALSO A CAUSE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 1993 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- New Deal, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2031J · no longer on the register · serial T18803336T
- 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 STATED HE WAS TO MAKE HIS FIRST PASS FROM SOUTH TO NORTH OVER A SET OF POWER LINES THAT HE WAS AWARE OF ON THE SOUTH END OF THE FIELD. HE INITIATED THE PASS BY DIVING INTO THE FIELD OVER THE LINES. AS HE DID SO, HE SAW A SECOND SET OF 30 FOOT HIGH LINES, 291 FEET NORTH OF THE FIRST. HE SUCCESSFULLY WENT UNDER THE SECOND LINES; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE SUPPORT POLES FOR THE SECOND SET OF LINES WERE OBSCURED.
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: 15,000 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 1993; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F83 Abernathy TX at 1:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- 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.