Cessna T188C accident near Colby, Kansas, July 20, 2007
On July 20, 2007 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N2870J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colby, Kansas (Shalz Field 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 during the take-off roll resulting in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2007 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Colby, Kansas · Shalz Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2870J · no longer on the register · serial T18803545T
- 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 was departing from runway 17 with a crosswind from the east. He stated that during the departure roll, the airplane veered into the wind. He attempted to correct with rudder; however, the rudder correction was inadequate. When he applied brakes, the brakes were unresponsive and the airplane ground looped, resulting in substantial damage. According to the pilot, he had not had any problems with the brakes prior to the takeoff roll. Winds at the time of the accident were recorded as 120 degrees at 8 knots. Examination of the brakes revealed the AN #3 fitting was cross threaded and metal contamination was found in the brake hose, preventing a seal, and resulting in a leak of brake fluid. An examination of the remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies.
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: 6,388 hours in all; 4,874 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 6,340 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,495 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CBK Colby KS at 4:00 pm
- Destination: CBK Colby KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,109 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; ovct at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from GLD, 30 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 N2870J 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.