Cessna A188B accident near Williamson, New York, April 15, 1983
On April 15, 1983 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N731VY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williamson, New York (Williamson/Sodus 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 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Williamson, New York · Williamson/Sodus · 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
- N731VY · registry record · serial 18803201T
- 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 TREE DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS ON TAKEOFF. THE PILOT HAD A LOAD OF 125 GALLONSOF A FUNGICIDE FOR SPRAYING TREES WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL. THE LOAD WAS DUMPED AND THE ACFT WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT FOR A LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE ACFT CONTACTED A TREE ON THE BOUNDARY OF THE FIELD AND ROTATED ABOUT 45DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. IT THEN LANDED AND BOUNCED AROUND AND ENDED UP HEADING NORTH IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD ONLY RUN WITH THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP ON. THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP (PN 638154-1) HAD SEIZED AND THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD SHEARED. THE SEIZURE OCCURRED AT THE SHAFT SEAL (P/N 13507).
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: 3,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 464 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1983; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3G7 Williamson NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,375 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.