Cessna A188B accident near Corcoran, California, March 14, 1992
On March 14, 1992, a Cessna A188B, registered N53241, was destroyed in an accident near Corcoran, California (Pvt Ranch Airstrip 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 AIRCRAFT'S ENCOUNTER DURING THE TAKEOFF WITH A CROSSWIND GUST BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1992
- Place
- Corcoran, California · Pvt Ranch Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N53241 · no longer on the register · serial 18801704
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS FROM BOTH THE PILOT AND HIS GROUND LOADER, THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL WHEN A SUDDEN 90 DEGREE CROSSWIND GUST CAUSED THE PILOT TO MOMENTARILY LOOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PILOT RECOVERED CONTROL AND CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFT OFF, A SECOND AND STRONGER CROSSWIND GUST BEGAN PUSHING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT INTO A LINE OF TELEPHONE POLES PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO DUMP THE LOAD OF CHEMICALS IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE POLES BUT THE MECHANISM MOMENTARILY JAMMED AND THE LOAD DID NOT TOTALLY JETTISON. THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE POLE, SHEARING IT OFF. THE AIRCRAFT THEN CRASHED INTO AN ADJACENT SANTA FE RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT THE STEADY STATE CROSSWIND COMPONENT WAS 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS. CESSNA AIRCRAFT ESTIMATED THAT THE MAXIMUM CROSSWIND COMPONENT CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS 13 KNOTS. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE THIRD LOAD OF THE DAY.
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: 1,540 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 23, 1991; 126 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D-23 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.