Cessna T188C accident near Olivia, Minnesota, September 10, 2002
On September 10, 2002 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N9432J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Olivia, Minnesota (Olivia Regional 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fouled spark plugs and the terrain condition encountered during the aborted takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 2002 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Olivia, Minnesota · Olivia Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9432J · no longer on the register · serial T18803804T
- 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 agricultural airplane was substantially damaged during an off airport landing immediately after takeoff when the engine reportedly experienced a partial loss of power by about 200 rpm. The airplane came to rest in a cornfield about 1/2 mile from the runway. Inspection of the engine revealed that the number 1 and 3 spark plugs contained lead deposits and would not fire when under a pressure of 120 psi. The spark plugs were able to fire once they were cleaned.
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: 8,210 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 8,125 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 21, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,883 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 29, 2002; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OVL Olivia MN at 1:45 pm
- Destination: OVL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,498 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 1:40 pm from OVL
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.