Cessna 188A accident near Dayton, Washington, July 27, 1993
On July 27, 1993 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 188A, registered N5646J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dayton, Washington (Dayton Airstrip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, UNDETERMINED. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A FENCE IN THE FLT PATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1993 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Dayton, Washington · Dayton Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188A · all 188As on the register
- Registration
- N5646J · no longer on the register · serial 18800596
- 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 ENGINE LOST POWER AT 50 FEET AGL DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. THE ACFT DESCENDED, STRUCK A FENCE AS POWER WAS REGAINED, AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. AN FAA INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE ACFT REPORTED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ENGINE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THE LEFT MAGNETO FAILED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,514 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 6,359 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,862 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1993; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dayton Chemical, INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 1,940 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from ALW, 22 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.