Cessna A188A accident near Norfolk, Nebraska, August 3, 1997
On August 3, 1997 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna A188A, registered N9902G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norfolk, Nebraska. 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 improper in-flight planning/decision, and failure or inability to control the airplane after encountering wake turbulence at low altitude during an aerial application maneuver. A related factor was the low altitude of the airplane when the wake was encountered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1997 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188A · all A188As on the register
- Registration
- N9902G · no longer on the register · serial 2073008
- 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 had followed another heavily loaded Cessna 188 out to the field which he was to spray. He did not know the other airplane's flight path, as it departed the area upon reaching the field. The pilot made one swath run from south to north along the eastern edge of the field prior to making a 270 degree turn and lining up to make the second swath run from east to west along the north side of the field. He reported that after leveling off about four feet above the field, the airplane suddenly encountered 'bad air' at which time it settled to impact with the terrain. The pilot later discovered that this second swath run was perpendicular through the flight path of the other airplane.
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: 411 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 380 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°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.