Cessna 188 accident near Meade, Kansas, April 8, 1995
On April 8, 1995 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Cessna 188, registered N9849V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Meade, Kansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot taking off the airplane at a low liftoff speed (Vlo). A factor associated with the accident was a stall/mush encountered by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1995 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Meade, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188 · all 188s on the register
- Registration
- N9849V · no longer on the register
- 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 OF AN AERIAL APPLICATION AIRPLANE SAID HE ROTATED THE AIRPLANE AT 60 TO 65 MPH. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH IN THE CLIMB. HE RETRACTED ONE NOTCH OF FLAPS AND NOTICED THE AIRPLANE STOPPED CLIMBING. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE BEGAN DESCENDING AT A FAST RATE. DURING THE DESCENT HE SAID THE AIRSPEED HAD DECELERATED TO 60 MPH WHILE THE THROTTLE AND PROPELLER CONTROLS WERE FULL IN. THE PILOT REPORTED THE HIGH DESCENT RATE CONTINUED UNTIL THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME. THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK SHOWED THE LIFTOFF SPEED TO BE 65 MPH.
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: 893 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 811 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,062 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 2, 1994; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from DDC, 34 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.
Other NTSB records under N9849V 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.