Cessna A188B accident near Greenbush, Minnesota, June 14, 1982
On June 14, 1982 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N4870R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenbush, Minnesota (Greenbush airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1982 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Greenbush, Minnesota · Greenbush
- 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
- N4870R · no longer on the register · serial 18802239T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED DURING TAKEOFF FROM A GRASS RUNWAY THAT HAD NOT BEEN MOWED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. THE FIELD ELEVATION WAS 1070 FT, THE WIND WAS CALM, AND THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 62 AND 50 DEGREES. A FULL FLAP (20 DEGREE) CONFIGURATION WAS USED FOR TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, THE CHECK LIST RECOMMENED 5 TO 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS FOR RESTRICTD CATEGORY AG TRUCKS WITH DISPERSAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED. THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 291 LBS OVER THE MAXIMUM LIMIT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF THE PLANE BEGAN TO SETTLE. AS HE NEARED THE END OF THE RUNWAY, HE DUMPED THE LOAD. HOWEVER, THE PLANE CONTINUED TO SETTLE AND STRUCK A DITCH ABOUT 50 YDS BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 5,180 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 5,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,099 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D-23 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Leon Schultz Air Spray Service
The flight
- Departed from: 02Y Greenbush MN at 8:15 am
- Destination: 02Y Greenbush MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 2,650 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 144°F (62°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.