Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a crop.
NTSB analysis
The commercial pilot was using the agricultural airplane to apply herbicide to a milo crop field. The pilot reported that, as the airplane passed low over the field, the airplane's underside contacted the heads of the milo. The airplane's left wing impacted a wire fence and a metal post, continued across a farm road, and ground-looped. The pilot reported that there were no power-related or mechanical anomalies before impact. During an examination of the airplane and engine, no anomalies were found that would have prevented normal operation.
.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN14LA480 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 16, 2014
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Hearne, Texas
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 188
- N-number
- N878C
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1979
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 137 (agricultural)
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial application
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.