Cessna A188B accident near Sublette, Kansas, May 26, 2000
On May 26, 2000 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N9076R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sublette, Kansas (Private Airstrip 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 failure of the pilot to attain aircraft control. Factors to the accident were the uneven terrain, the failure of the pilot to maintain directional control on the ground, and the crop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2000 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sublette, Kansas · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9076R · no longer on the register · serial 18802101T
- 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 aircraft was substantially damaged during takeoff roll at a private airstrip. The aerial application flight was on the takeoff roll when the aircraft hit a rut in the runway. According to a statement by the pilot, 'The plane was about ready for lift off when I hit a rut causing the plane to pull sharply to the left. I pulled back on the stick to lift off, but at the same time the left boom hit the wheat, causing the plane to rotate 11/2 turns counter clockwise just above the wheat. The plane traveled approximately 400 feet through the air, hitting tail section first...There was no prop strike, no injuries to pilot but major damage to the aircraft.' The pilot also stated, 'Probable Cause of Accident: Pilot assumed too much; needed to check things out better, especially the runway. Probable cause of accident due to pilot error.'
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
- Flight time: 4,913 hours in all; 2,932 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 4,913 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,235 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1999; 123 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from GCK, 23 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.
Other NTSB records under N9076R 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.