Cessna T188C accident near Burdett, Kansas, March 28, 2015
On March 28, 2015 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna T188C, registered N2093J, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Burdett, Kansas (Rucker Burdett airport). 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 pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2015 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burdett, Kansas · Rucker Burdett · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C, built 1978 · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2093J · no longer on the register · serial T18803383T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the accident pilot, the agricultural airplane was loaded with 120 gallons of product and the fuel tanks were half full. During the takeoff roll about one-third down the runway, he airplane encountered a gust of wind. The airplane veered left and exited the runway into tall grass. The pilot attempted to maneuver the airplane back to the runway to continue the takeoff. The airplane collided with a barbed wire fence and rotated 180 degrees. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that the airplane had no mechanical malfunctions or failures and the engine was producing power.
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
What happened, in order
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during takeoff defining event
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,114 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 14, 2015
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-520-T (turboprop); 5,943 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SN29 Burdett KS at 8:30 pm
- Destination: SN29 Burdett KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,650 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from KDDC, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N2093J 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.