Cessna T188C accident near Panhandle, Texas, June 11, 1999
On June 11, 1999 at about 11:30 am local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N9659J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Panhandle, 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
The partial loss of engine power as a result of the low compression in the number 5 cylinder. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1999 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Panhandle, 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
- N9659J · no longer on the register · serial T18803833T
- 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 agricultural airplane impacted terrain during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power after takeoff. The airplane departed from the runway, reached an altitude of approximately 75 feet agl, and then began to 'settle to the ground.' The pilot performed an emergency chemical dump; however, the airplane continued to descend. During the ensuing forced landing in a wheat field, the left main landing gear failed, and the airplane groundlooped. Subsequently, the airplane slid 60 feet before coming to a stop upright. Examination of the engine revealed that the number 5 cylinder produced a compression of 34/80 (manufacturer's specifications state that the acceptable compression is 60/80). No other discrepancies with the engine were noted.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,333 hours in all; 699 in this make and model; 215 in the last 90 days; 99 in the last 30 days; 2,234 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,551 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1999; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3E1 at 11:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°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.