Cessna A188B accident near Fort Necessity, Louisiana, August 6, 1995
On August 6, 1995 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N4866R, was destroyed in an accident near Fort Necessity, Louisiana. 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1995 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Necessity, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4866R · no longer on the register · serial 18802385T
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING USED IN AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT TO SPRAY COTTON. DURING DESCENT FROM A TURN-AROUND MANEUVER, THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND AND SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME. WITNESSES REPORTED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA WITH WINDS GUSTING FROM 15 TO 30 KNOTS. NATIONAL WEATHER SURFACE RADAR SUMMARY REPORTS INDICATED RAINSHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MAINTENANCE ANOMALIES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Gilbert LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.