Cessna A188B accident near Berino, New Mexico, May 9, 1986
On May 9, 1986 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N4491Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berino, New Mexico. 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
- May 9, 1986 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Berino, New Mexico · 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
- N4491Q · no longer on the register · serial 18800891
- 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 REPORTS THAT HE WAS TAKING OFF ON HIS THIRD AERIAL APP FLT OF THE DAY. HE SAID THE WIND WAS FROM THE NW AND VERY LIGHT AND HE WAS DEPARTING TO THE N. THE DENSITY ALT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 5,200 FT. ACCELERATION SEEMED TO BE NORMAL UNTIL ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY DOWN THE 2,400 FT LONG, DIRT STRIP WHEN 'THE PLANE SEEMED LIKE IT SUDDENLY PICKED UP A TAIL WIND.' THE PLT DUMPED THE LOAD OF CHEM IN HOPES OF GETTING AIRBORNE BUT THE ACFT DID NOT FLY. THERE IS A TWO FT HIGH LEVY AT THE END OF THE STRIP AND WHEN THE MAIN GEAR HIT THE LEVY THE ACFT BOUNCED AIRBORNE AND THEN CRASHED. THE ENG WAS EXAMINED AFTER THE ACDT AND NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED POWER LOSS.
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: 3,777 hours in all; 562 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 3,581 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,827 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 1986; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°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.