The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB DEN84LA252 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 188 accident near Holyoke, Colorado, August 7, 1984

On August 7, 1984 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 188, registered N2090J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Holyoke, Colorado. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
August 7, 1984 · about 2:30 pm local time
Place
Holyoke, Colorado · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 188 · all 188s on the register
Registration
N2090J · no longer on the register · serial T18803380T
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 LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING WITH A REAR RIGHT QUARTERING CROSSWIND REPORTED AT 5 KTS. USE OF OPPOSITE RUDDER AND BRAKING WAS INEFFECTIVE IN REGAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PILOT REPORTED NO RESPONSE FROM THE LEFT BRAKE AND STATED BETTER BRAKE MAINTANANCE COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A DITCH.

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: 2,070 hours in all; 2,070 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,760 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1984
  • Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 50 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.