Cessna 188 accident near Mexico, Missouri, July 26, 2005
On July 26, 2005 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 188, registered N731SV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mexico, Missouri. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Factors were the grass terrain adjacent to the runway and the collapse of the main landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2005 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Mexico, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188 · all 188s on the register
- Registration
- N731SV · no longer on the register · serial 18803177T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged when the right main landing gear collapsed during landing subsequent to a loss of directional control. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he was landing the airplane on runway 24 into a left quartering headwind. He stated that his intent was to perform a wheel landing. He said that the airplane bounced at which time he applied a little power, re-flared and attempted to wheel land again. He stated that the airplane again bounced at which time he elected to 3-point land the airplane. He said that upon touchdown, the airplane began to go to the right and he applied up elevator and left rudder. He said that the airplane began to skid sideways and went off of the runway. He said that when the wheels contacted the turf, the airplane began to hop and then the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The recorded winds were 230 degrees at 14 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 24.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 460 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M28 Hayti MO
- Destination: H41 Mexico MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from KCOU
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 N731SV 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.