Cessna A188B accident near Camanche, Iowa, August 20, 2008
On August 20, 2008 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N53243, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Camanche, Iowa. 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 pilot took off on an unsuitable airstrip which resulted in the airplane becoming prematurely airborne with inadequate airspeed after it contacted a rise in the terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2008 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Camanche, Iowa · 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
- N53243 · registry record · serial 18801706T
- 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 stated that during the takeoff run the airplane became airborne when it contacted a "hump" in the grass airstrip. He stated he attempted to keep the airplane airborne, but it settled back onto the airstrip where it contacted a "washed-out" rut that crossed through the middle of the airstrip. This resulted in the right landing gear being sheared off the airplane and the left landing gear collapsing rearward. The internal airframe structure was damaged at the gear attach points. The pilot stated he was aware of the condition of the airstrip prior to the takeoff.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff defining event
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Capability exceeded
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,832 hours in all; 397 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days; 169 in the last 30 days; 20,702 as pilot in command; 4,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental R-IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Camanche IA
- Destination: Camanche IA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 12:52 pm from DVN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.