# NTSB FTW95LA252: Cessna A188B, N53372, Weslaco, TX, June 19, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 1995, 09:27 local (14:27 UTC) - Place: Weslaco, TX - Coordinates: 26.159095, -97.980628 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1591&lon=-97.9806&mi=10 - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19461 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19461/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA252 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY BOTH PILOTS. A FACTOR WAS THE INABILITY OF THE PILOTS TO COMMUNICATE BY RADIO DUE TO THE INCOMPATIBLE EQUIPMENT INSTALLED IN THE TWO AIRPLANES. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY BOTH PILOTS. A FACTOR WAS THE INABILITY OF THE PILOTS TO COMMUNICATE BY RADIO DUE TO THE INCOMPATIBLE EQUIPMENT INSTALLED IN THE TWO AIRPLANES. ## Analysis (aircraft 2) N9433R ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ON A LEFT BASE 2 TO 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT, TURNED BASE AND BEGAN DESCENDING. N53372 ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT MIDFIELD ON LEFT DOWNWIND, TURNED BASE AND THEN FINAL APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO BOTH PILOTS, THE COLLISION OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER N53372 TURNED FINAL. THE PILOT OF N9433R REPORTED LOOKING UP AND TO THE LEFT AND SEEING N53372 'A SPLIT SECOND BEFORE IMPACT.' A WITNESS STATED THAT 'THE YELLOW AIRPLANE [N9433R] FLEW UPWARD AND STRUCK THE OTHER RED AND BLUE PLANE [N53372].' BOTH AIRPLANES CONTINUED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DAMAGE TO N9433R CONSISTED OF SEPARATION OF THE LEFT WINGTIP AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE AND LEFT AILERON. THE RIGHT SIDE OF N53372 WAS TORN OPEN AFT OF THE COCKPIT. N9433R WAS EQUIPPED WITH A BUSINESS BAND RADIO, WHILE N53372 HAD A VHF AIRCRAFT RADIO INSTALLED. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) N53372 ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT MIDFIELD ON LEFT DOWNWIND, TURNED BASE AND THEN FINAL APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. N9433R ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ON A LEFT BASE 2 TO 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT, TURNED BASE AND BEGAN DESCENDING. ACCORDING TO BOTH PILOTS, THE COLLISION OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER N53372 TURNED FINAL. THE PILOT OF N9433R REPORTED LOOKING UP AND TO THE LEFT AND SEEING N53372 'A SPLIT SECOND BEFORE IMPACT.' A WITNESS STATED THAT 'THE YELLOW AIRPLANE [N9433R] FLEW UPWARD AND STRUCK THE OTHER RED AND BLUE PLANE [N53372].' BOTH AIRPLANES CONTINUED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DAMAGE TO N9433R CONSISTED OF SEPARATION OF THE LEFT WINGTIP AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE AND LEFT AILERON. THE RIGHT SIDE OF N53372 WAS TORN OPEN AFT OF THE COCKPIT. N9433R WAS EQUIPPED WITH A BUSINESS BAND RADIO, WHILE N53372 HAD A VHF AIRCRAFT RADIO INSTALLED. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) SEE NARRATIVE FOR FTW-95-L-A252A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On June 19, 1995, at 0927 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N53372, collided with N9433R, a Cessna A188B, while both airplanes were on approach near Weslaco, Texas. N53372 was substantially damaged and N9433R sustained minor damage. Neither of the commercial pilots was injured. Both airplanes were operated by Stanley Flying Service under Title 14 CFR Part 137. No flight plans were filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flights which departed Weslaco at 0655 CDT. Both airplanes were returning to land on runway 13 at the Mid Valley Airport after working in the same general area. According to the pilot of N9433R, he entered the traffic pattern on a left base 2 to 3 miles northeast of the airport, turned final and began descending. He reported looking up and to the left and seeing N53372 "a split second before impact." According to the pilot of N53372, he entered the traffic pattern at midfield on a left downwind, turned base and then final "approximately 1/4 mile from the approach end of the runway." Both pilots submitted sketches indicating that the collision occurred immediately after N53372 turned final. A witness interviewed by the Weslaco Police Department stated that "when she saw the airplanes they were flying close to each other and that the yellow airplane [N9433R] flew upward and struck the other red and blue plane [N53372]." Following the collision, both airplanes continued to the airport and landed without further incident. Examination of the airplanes by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left wing tip of N9433R was separated, and there was minor damage to the left wing leading edge and the left aileron. The right side of the fuselage of N53372 was torn open aft of the cockpit. The FAA inspector further reported that N9433R was equipped with a business band radio, while N53372 had a VHF aircraft radio installed. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N53372](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53372-1998-12-01), registration cancelled 1998-12-01, S/N 18801792T (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18801792T - Airframe hours: 2500 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Stanley Flying Service - Registered owner: Bobby D. White - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: T65 - Airport: T65, Mid Valley, runway 13, 5,000 × 70 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N9433R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9433R-2005-09-09), registration cancelled 2005-09-09, S/N 18802281T, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18802281T - Airframe hours: 4160 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Stanley Flying Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Suggs, Royce & Addison, Wes - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 1995, 280 hours before - Departed: T65 - Airport: T65, Mid Valley, runway 13, 5,000 × 70 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N53372; age 46; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 9,800 total, 200 in this make and model, 9,700 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N9433R; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,300 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,250 as pilot in command, 290 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950619022252A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950619022252A), Jun 19, 1995: Cessna A188B, Weslaco, TX, Substantial damage. On final after proper pattern entry was struck on final by N9433R that entered from base. Both ag. Landed safe. - [Accident 19950619022251A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950619022251A), Jun 19, 1995: Cessna A188B, Weslaco, TX, Minor damage. Entered pattern on base. Collided with aircraft on final after entering pattern midfield downwind. Both landed safe 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.