Cessna T188C accident near Soloman, Arizona, April 2, 1983
On April 2, 1983 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N2074J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soloman, Arizona. 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
- April 2, 1983 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Soloman, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2074J · registry record · serial T188 03364T
- 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 ACFT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN THE FIELD IT WAS SPRAYING. THE ACFT HAD ONLY MADE ONE SPRAYING PASS SINCE BEING SERVICED WITH A FULL LOAD OF FUEL AND 140 GALLONS OF CHEMICAL BEFORE THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. AS THE ACFT CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER IT LOST ALT AND LANDED. THE LANDING GEAR WAS TORN FROM THE ACFT AND IT BOUNCED BUT REMAINED UPRIGHT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DUMP LOAD BEFORE LANDING BUT GATE STOP WAS INCORRECTLY SET AND WOULD NOT DUMP. THE ENGINE WAS LATER TESTED AND FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND IN THE FORM OF RUST, SAND GRAINS ANDFINE ALUMINUM FRAGMENTS. DURING THE TESTING THE #6 FUEL NOZZLE BECAME PLUGGED ENOUGH TO LOSE POWER ON #6 CYLINDER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 23,500 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,485 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 1983; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAD Safford AZ at 7:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Observation at 7:10 pm from E74, 10 miles away
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.