Cessna T188C accident near Weslaco, Texas, July 5, 1998
On July 5, 1998 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N3963J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Weslaco, Texas. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1998 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Weslaco, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3963J · no longer on the register · serial T18803703T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane landed on the previous afternoon on the first overnight stop of the ferry flight to South America. The airplane was topped off for the next day's scheduled flight to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. A witness observed a similar airplane depart two minutes ahead of the accident airplane. She noticed that the heavily loaded airplane broke ground fairly quick and established a good rate of climb after takeoff. The same witness observed the accident airplane takeoff and initiate a climb. The witness stated that she immediately noted a marked decrease in performance in the second airplane. The witness reported that the airplane failed to gain altitude after a rather long takeoff roll. The private pilot reported that the airplane landed hard in a rough and uneven field. Both main landing gear were torn off at the initial point of ground impact. The airplane came to rest in the upright position. The fuel on board was found to be free of contaminants. The pilot told the FAA inspector at the site that he suspected that either the turbocharger failed, or the propeller was not in low pitch/high rpm position. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 375 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Tegucigalpa OF
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,600 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from MFE
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.