Cessna A188B accident near Greenbush, Minnesota, April 21, 1986
On April 21, 1986 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N9220R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenbush, Minnesota (Greenbush airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- April 21, 1986 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Greenbush, Minnesota · Greenbush · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9220R · no longer on the register · serial 18802164T
- 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 PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT CONTACTED A SOFT SPOT, CAUSED BY RECENT RAINS, IN THE SOD RUNWAY DURING TAKEOFF. THE ACFT DECELERATED, HOWEVER, THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF AS NOT ENOUGH RUNWAY REMAINED TO ABORT. THE ACFT DID NOT OBTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO BECOME AIRBORNE AND IT CONTACTED A RIVER BANK NEAR 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: 2,241 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2,006 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,875 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D23 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from GFK, 60 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.