Cessna A188B accident near Lodi, California, February 23, 1982
On February 23, 1982 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N731RG, was destroyed in an accident near Lodi, California (Thomas Ranch airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1982 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lodi, California · Thomas Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N731RG · registry record · serial 18803091T
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE NOTED FROST ON THE WINGS BEFORE TAKEOFF, BUT FELT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO BE CONCERNED. HE INITIATED A TAKEOFF ON A 2500 FT AIRSTRIP WITH A LOAD OF PARAQUAT AND WATER. THERE WAS A SLIGHT TAILWIND. HE STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ENGINE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE DEVELOPING FULL POWER. HE ACTUATED THE DUMP HANDLE TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD, BUT STRUCK A 5 FT BANK NEAR THE END OF THE STRIP. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED NO PRE-CRASH MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES EXCEPT CONSIDERABLE LEAD DEPOSITS ON THE LOWER SPARK PLUGS. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY DURING A RUN-UP CHECK. THE PROPELLER CONTROL WAS FOUND POSITIONED LESS THAN HALF WAY FROM THE HIGH PITCH SETTING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE EXERCISED THE PROPELLER CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE INDICATED THAT HE MAY HAVE MISTAKENLY LEFT THE PROPELLER CONTROL IN A HIGH PITCH, LOW RPM POSITION.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 143 in the last 90 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,685 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D32 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0600 Lodi CA at 6:00 am
- Destination: 0600 Lodi CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.