Cessna T-188C accident near Pasco, Washington, July 27, 1985
On July 27, 1985, a Cessna T-188C, registered N1964J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pasco, Washington. 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
- July 27, 1985
- Place
- Pasco, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T-188C · all T-188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1964J · no longer on the register · serial T18803307T
- 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 PILOT ELECTED TO DEPART AN 1800 FOOT GRAVEL AIRSTRIP WITH A 90 DEGRDD F TEMPERATURE. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 3100 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEAVILY LOADED, APPROACHING GROSS WEIGHT. THE PILOT MADE THE DECISION DURING THE LAST 1/3 OF THE RUNWAY TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. HE DUMPED HIS LOAD, APPLIED FULL FLAPS, AND THEN BECAME AIRBORNE. DURING A SHALLOW RIGHT TURN THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED TALL WHEAT AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND.
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: 3,250 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,721 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 15, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 4,700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Pasco WA
- Destination: NONE Pasco WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°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.
Other NTSB records under N1964J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.