Cessna 188 accident near Stanfield, Arizona, March 26, 1983
On March 26, 1983 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 188, registered N9893V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stanfield, Arizona. 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 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
- March 26, 1983 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Stanfield, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188 · all 188s on the register
- Registration
- N9893V · no longer on the register · serial 188-0143
- 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 RATED COMMERCIAL PLT WAS ON A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLT WHILE IN TRAINING FOR AERIAL APPLICATION. HE STATED THAT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, HE HAD VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL LOAD & THOUGHT THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE FLT. HE TOOK OFF, SPRAYED A LOAD OF WATER, THEN RETURNED TO RELOAD & TOOK OFF AGAIN. WHEN HE PULLED UP FROM THE 4TH SWATH RUN, THE ENG LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT STRUCK A 'CONCRETE DITCH.'
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
- Flight time: 378 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 343 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,427 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 4, 1982; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 345° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.