Cessna A188A accident near Brawley, California, January 15, 2003
On January 15, 2003 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Cessna A188A, registered N5638J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brawley, California. 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
loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2003 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- Brawley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188A · all A188As on the register
- Registration
- N5638J · no longer on the register · serial 18800588
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff, the engine started to lose power, and the pilot made a forced landing in an open field. The airplane came to rest in a ditch. The flight was an agricultural application flight and was carrying herbicide at the time of the accident. The engine had accumulated about 17 hours since a factory overhaul, and had been installed on the accident airplane for 2 months prior to the accident. An on-scene inspection of the engine established mechanical and valve train continuity. Investigators obtained thumb compression in firing order. No discrepancies were found during a teardown inspection of the engine and propeller. Bench tests of the fuel and ignition systems revealed operation within specification.
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: 2,840 hours in all; 2,708 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 21, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 2002; 17.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-520-D55 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Brawley CA at 3:52 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from IPL
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.