Cessna 188B accident near Belgrade, Nebraska, September 9, 1991
On September 9, 1991 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Cessna 188B, registered N4788Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belgrade, Nebraska (Unk airport). 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'S FAILURE TO TAKE ADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. A RELATED FACTOR IS THE PREMATURE LIFTOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1991 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Belgrade, Nebraska · Unk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188B · all 188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4788Q · no longer on the register · serial 188025301
- 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 ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF WITH A LOAD OF RYE SEED FOR AERIAL APPLICATION. HE STATED 'PLANE LIFTED OFF RUNWAY, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN LIFT. LANDED IN CORN FIELD ABOUT 100 YDS. FROM END OF RUNWAY.' INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL DIFFICULTY WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED THERE MAY HAVE BEEN DOWNDRAFTS IN THE AREA.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 1,475 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Cont IO-520-D-23 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N4788Q 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.