# Accident 19980705015799A: Cessna T188C, Weslaco, TX, July 5, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 5, 1998, 08:00 local time
- Place: Weslaco, TX
- Airport: Mid Valley Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.1592° N, 97.9803° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1592&lon=-97.9803&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3963J (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T188C
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO520T
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 375 total, 10 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA293) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980705015799A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT STRUCK A POWER LINE ON TAKEOFF, WESLACO, TX (.4) THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON THE PREVIOUS AFTERNOON ON THE FIRST OVERNIGHT STOP OF THE FERRY FLIGHT TO SOUTH AMERICA. THE AIRPLANE WAS TOPPED OFF FOR THE NEXT DAY'S SCHEDULED FLIGHT TO TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS. A WITNESS OBSERVED A SIMILAR AIRPLANE DEPART TWO MINUTES AHEAD OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. SHE NOTICED THAT THE HEAVILY LOADED AIRPLANE BROKE GROUND FAIRLY QUICK AND ESTABLISHED A GOOD RATE OF CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. THE SAME WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE TAKEOFF AND INITIATE A CLIMB. THE WITNESS STATED THAT SHE IMMEDIATELY NOTED A MARKED DECREASE IN PERFORMANCE IN THE SECOND AIRPLANE. THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO GAIN ALTITUDE AFTER A RATHER LONG TAKEOFF ROLL. THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD IN A ROUGH AND UNEVEN FIELD. BOTH MAIN LANDING GEAR WERE TORN OFF AT THE INITIAL POINT OF GROUND IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE FUEL ON BOARD WAS FOUND TO BE FREE OF CONTAMINANTS. THE PILOT TOLD THE FAA INSPECTOR AT THE SITE THAT HE SUSPECTED THAT EITHER THE TURBOCHARGER FAILED, OR THE PROPELLER WAS NOT IN LOW PITCH/HIGH RPM POSITION. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. (-23) MR. ADOLFO OSMAR GEDDA, HOLDER OF ARGENTINA PILOT LICENSE NO 45.467, DEPARTED MID VALLY AIRPORT, WESLACO TEXAS, AT 8:00 LOCAL TIME, ON JULY 5, 1998, IN CESSNA N3963J. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED IN VISUAL FLIGHT RULES CONDITIONS. AFTER TAKE OFF, THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ENOUGH POWER FROM THE ENGINE, TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98LA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA293), Jul 5, 1998: Cessna T188C (N3963J), Weslaco, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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