Cessna A188B accident near Sprague, Nebraska, October 20, 1999
On October 20, 1999 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N731PU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sprague, Nebraska. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Engine failure due to fouled and rusted spark plugs, and a clogged fuel filter. Factors relating to this accident were the inadequate annual inspection performed on the airplane, the trees and the ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1999 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sprague, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N731PU · no longer on the register · serial 18803055T
- 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 said that he was flying to the north around 20 feet above the ground, when the engine quit. 'There was no sputtering or warning. It just quit.' The pilot checked the throttle and pulled on the flaps to slow the airplane. 'There was no place to land, so I went into some trees and hit a ditch which flipped me over.' Examination of the airplane's engine revealed that the bottom spark plugs were lead-fouled, and rusted. Examination of the other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. Further examination of the engine revealed that the fuel strainer filter was clogged with debris identified as dirt and rust. An examination of the airplane's maintenance records showed that several airworthiness directives applicable to the airplane had not been complied with. Additionally, several airplane system items requiring annual inspection under 14 CFR part 43 had not been accomplished.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 8,900 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,807 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1999; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Adams NE at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from LNK, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.