Cessna A188B accident near Bluffs, Illinois, May 30, 1991
On May 30, 1991 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N4887Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bluffs, Illinois (See Narrative 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 MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1991 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bluffs, Illinois · See Narrative · 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
- N4887Q · no longer on the register · serial 18802623T
- 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 COMMENCED HIS FOURTH TAKEOFF AT THE ACCIDENT LOCATION FOR AERIAL APPLICATION OF HERBICIDE. THE RUNWAY CONSISTED OF A CROWNED BLACKTOP ROAD, 25 FEET WIDE, FLANKED ON EITHER SIDE BY A DITCH 4 FEET DEEP. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE VEERED RIGHT AT 2 TO 3 FEET ABOVE GROUND AFTER LIFTOFF, THEN ROLLED TO INVERTED. GROUND SCARS OF THE RIGHT WINGTIP START AT THE ROAD EDGE AND ARE FOLLOWED BY MARKS OF THE MAIN GEAR AND PROP IN THE DITCH. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN A FIELD BEYOND. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MALFUNCTION, AND NONE WAS DISCOVERED.
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
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 3,700 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 4,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,700 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 25, 1991; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental I0-520-D23 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bob Davis Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from SPI, 35 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.