Cessna A188B accident near Algona, Iowa, July 29, 2026
On July 29, 2026 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna A188B, registered N731CQ, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Algona, Iowa. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control during a turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2026 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Algona, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B, built 1977 · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N731CQ · registry record · serial 18802794T
- 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 pilot reported that while performing agricultural spray applications, a vehicle parked on the road in the vicinity of the field he was spraying. He made a 360° turn waiting for the vehicle to move. During the turn, the airplane lost airspeed and entered an aerodynamic stall. The pilot attempted to recover the airplane from the stall by pitching the nose of the airplane down and applying full power. However, during the recovery, the airplane entered a secondary aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted power lines and trees and then impacted a residential yard. The fuselage, wings, and horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 422 hours in all; 172 in this make and model; 152 in the last 90 days; 137 in the last 30 days; 356 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 9, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,005 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D6 (piston); 3,006 hours total
- Operator: Meyer Brothers Ag LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Priv Whittemore IA at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KAXA, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KAXA 292135Z AUTO 12008KT 10SM CLR 31/22 A2997
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA274.