Cessna A188B and Cessna A188B mid-air collision near Weslaco, Texas, June 19, 1995
On June 19, 1995 at about 2:27 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna A188B (N53372) and Cessna A188B (N9433R), were involved in a mid-air collision near Weslaco, Texas (Mid Valley airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY BOTH PILOTS. A FACTOR WAS THE INABILITY OF THE PILOTS TO COMMUNICATE BY RADIO DUE TO THE INCOMPATIBLE EQUIPMENT INSTALLED IN THE TWO AIRPLANES.
THE INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY BOTH PILOTS. A FACTOR WAS THE INABILITY OF THE PILOTS TO COMMUNICATE BY RADIO DUE TO THE INCOMPATIBLE EQUIPMENT INSTALLED IN THE TWO AIRPLANES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1995 · about 2:27 pm local time
- Place
- Weslaco, Texas · Mid Valley · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N53372 · registry record · serial 18801792T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9433R · registry record · serial 18802281T
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna A188B final · quoted from the NTSB record
N53372 ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT MIDFIELD ON LEFT DOWNWIND, TURNED BASE AND THEN FINAL APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. N9433R ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ON A LEFT BASE 2 TO 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT, TURNED BASE AND BEGAN DESCENDING. ACCORDING TO BOTH PILOTS, THE COLLISION OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER N53372 TURNED FINAL. THE PILOT OF N9433R REPORTED LOOKING UP AND TO THE LEFT AND SEEING N53372 'A SPLIT SECOND BEFORE IMPACT.' A WITNESS STATED THAT 'THE YELLOW AIRPLANE [N9433R] FLEW UPWARD AND STRUCK THE OTHER RED AND BLUE PLANE [N53372].' BOTH AIRPLANES CONTINUED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DAMAGE TO N9433R CONSISTED OF SEPARATION OF THE LEFT WINGTIP AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE AND LEFT AILERON. THE RIGHT SIDE OF N53372 WAS TORN OPEN AFT OF THE COCKPIT. N9433R WAS EQUIPPED WITH A BUSINESS BAND RADIO, WHILE N53372 HAD A VHF AIRCRAFT RADIO INSTALLED.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna A188B final · quoted from the NTSB record
N9433R ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ON A LEFT BASE 2 TO 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT, TURNED BASE AND BEGAN DESCENDING. N53372 ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT MIDFIELD ON LEFT DOWNWIND, TURNED BASE AND THEN FINAL APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO BOTH PILOTS, THE COLLISION OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER N53372 TURNED FINAL. THE PILOT OF N9433R REPORTED LOOKING UP AND TO THE LEFT AND SEEING N53372 'A SPLIT SECOND BEFORE IMPACT.' A WITNESS STATED THAT 'THE YELLOW AIRPLANE [N9433R] FLEW UPWARD AND STRUCK THE OTHER RED AND BLUE PLANE [N53372].' BOTH AIRPLANES CONTINUED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DAMAGE TO N9433R CONSISTED OF SEPARATION OF THE LEFT WINGTIP AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE AND LEFT AILERON. THE RIGHT SIDE OF N53372 WAS TORN OPEN AFT OF THE COCKPIT. N9433R WAS EQUIPPED WITH A BUSINESS BAND RADIO, WHILE N53372 HAD A VHF AIRCRAFT RADIO INSTALLED.
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 for the Cessna A188B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,800 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 9,700 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T65 at 11:55 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,000 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna A188B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 290 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 1,250 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1995; 280 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Stanley Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: T65 at 11:55 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,000 ft by 70 ft
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.