Cessna A188B accident near Prosser, Nebraska, June 21, 2004
On June 21, 2004 at about 3:13 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N731MP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prosser, Nebraska (Aknux airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's abrupt maneuver to avoid obstructions, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in a stall. The low altitude flight operation, and the transmission tower (antenna) were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2004 · about 3:13 pm local time
- Place
- Prosser, Nebraska · Aknux · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N731MP · no longer on the register · serial 18803003T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was fatally injured when the aircraft inadvertently stalled, began a spin, and impacted terrain during a maneuver to avoid a transmission tower. The owner/operator of the accident aircraft reported that the pilot was completing a period of training prior to being hired at the operator's agricultural application service. During the accident flight the pilot was to complete ten practice application passes. The operator stated that he witnessed the takeoff, however, instead of turning out to the east, the pilot turned to the west. The operator noted that he drove to the designated practice field, but the accident aircraft never arrived. A witness reported that the aircraft was flying about 500 feet above ground level, when it suddenly banked hard and appeared to go straight down. A second witness reported that he did not see the aircraft in flight, but looked up to see the impact. This witness stated he "saw the moment of impact and it appeared to have gone [straight] down into the ground." A transmission tower, extending 625 feet above ground level, was located approximately 1,000 feet south of the accident site. Flight control continuity was established from the control surfaces to the cabin area during a post-accident examination.
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: 276 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 236 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,863 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 2004; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NE38 Prosser NE at 3:00 pm
- Destination: NE38
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from HSI, 10 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.