Cessna 188B accident near Munger, Michigan, July 23, 1991
On July 23, 1991 at about 10:45 am local time, a Cessna 188B, registered N4962Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Munger, Michigan (Private 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
A PREMATURE LIFTOFF BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT RUNWAY SURFACE AND A STALL/MUSH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1991 · about 10:45 am local time
- Place
- Munger, Michigan · Private · 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
- N4962Q · no longer on the register · serial 18802696T
- 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 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED FROM A REPORTED SOFT SURFACED SOD RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE AIRPLANE SETTLED INTO MATURE CORN SHORTLY AFTER THE 'NORMAL TAKEOFF.' AN EYEWITNESS CONFIRMED THE PILOT'S STATEMENT AND ADDED THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT APPEAR AS THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO TAKEOFF. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RUNWAY SURFACE WAS SOFT AND THAT NO PRE-CRASH AIRFRAME OR POWERPLANT MALFUNCTIONS COULD BE IDENTIFIED.
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
- Flight time: 8,588 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1991; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°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 N4962Q 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.