Cessna A188B accident near Lyons, Kansas, June 12, 2008
On June 12, 2008 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N9639G, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Lyons, Kansas. 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the dirt embankment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2008 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lyons, Kansas · 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
- N9639G · no longer on the register · serial 18801575
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Several days preceding the accident, the pilot experienced engine problems during an attempted aerial application flight. After maintenance was performed, the airplane underwent several engine test runs and a couple of test flights with no problems noted. On the day of the accident, the airplane was loaded with approximately 150 gallons of chemical. After takeoff, the pilot turned the airplane in a direction opposite of his intended destination in order to over fly the airport in case of an emergency. During the initial takeoff climb, the engine was running okay and no problems were noted. Approximately 1 to 1.5 miles from the airport, the engine "pulled down," and the pilot could not maintain altitude. The pilot stated, "I am now sure the engine was trying to seize up and I was again forced to land." The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a dirt embankment, went onto its nose, and came to rest upright. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 449 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 14,000 as pilot in command; 1,300 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,360 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2008; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rice County Aerial Sprayers INC
The flight
- Departed from: LYO Lyons KS at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N9639G 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.