Cessna 188B accident near Modesto, California, April 15, 1983
On April 15, 1983 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Cessna 188B, registered N9961J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Modesto, California (Yandell Ranch airport). 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
- April 15, 1983 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Modesto, California · Yandell Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188B · all 188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9961J · no longer on the register · serial 18803890T
- 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 COLLIDED WITH A FENCE DURING TAKEOFF AND PULLED THE TAILWHEEL OUT OF THE EMPENNAGE. THE PLT SAID THE DUMP VALVEFAILED TO WORK OR 'STRUCK' SO HE COULD NOT JETTISON THE LOAD. HE FELT THE NEED TO 'DUMP' WHEN THE ACFT HIT A 'SOFTSPOT' IN THE GRAVEL AND DIRT RWY WHICH WAS SOFT AND MUDDY IN SPOTS. THE ACFT WAS LOADED WITH 20 GALLONS OF FUEL AND 170 GALLONS OF CHEMICALS. AFTER THE COLLISION THE PLT MANEUVERED BACK TO THE RWY AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER MISHAP.
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: 5,350 hours in all; 155 in the last 90 days; 4,492 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 88 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 18, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: My Ranch Flying Sevice
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,640 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- 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.