Cessna 188 accident near Meade, Kansas, August 14, 1995
On August 14, 1995 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 188, registered N53376, 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
a fatigue failure of the propeller blade, and inadequate maintenance inspection performed by the propeller shop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1995 · about 7:30 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
- N53376 · no longer on the register · serial 1880179ST
- 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 reported that while he was pulling up out of a field and starting into a turn, he heard a loud bang and felt an abrupt reduction of power. During the emergency landing the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that the entire propeller assembly was missing and that it had broken off at the crankshaft flange. A propeller blade was found over a month later. An examination of the blade revealed that it had broken off at the blade root. The pilot reported that the propeller had been leaking oil. He had sent the propeller to a propeller shop to have it inspected for leaks and cracks. He reported that the propeller shop's examination found no cracks and replaced the seals. The pilot reported that the propeller was returned to service, but after seven hours of flight the propeller failed. A metallurgical laboratory reported that, 'the propeller failed with a transverse fracture in the threads at the base of the blade.'
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: 6,587 hours in all; 458 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,386 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 1995; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MEJ at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°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.
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.