Cessna A188B accident near Limon, Colorado, May 14, 1987
On May 14, 1987 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N70164, was substantially damaged in an accident near Limon, Colorado. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 14, 1987 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Limon, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N70164 · no longer on the register · serial 18801855T
- 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 PLT REPORTS THAT HE WAS USING A DIRT ROAD FOR AERIAL APP OPERATIONS. THE ACFT WAS LOADED WITH 40 GALS FUEL AND 140 GALS CHEM AND THE DENSITY ALT IS EST TO HAVE BEEN 8100 FT. THE PLT SAID THE TAKEOFF WAS MADE TO THE E WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND OF ABOUT 15 KTS. THE ACFT LIFTED OFF TO ABOUT 15 FT AGL BUT THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE ROAD WITH THE LT WHEEL ON THE ROAD AND THE RT WHEEL IN THE RT DITCH. THE RT WING THEN HIT FENCE POSTS TURNING THE ACFT TO THE RT AND COLLAPSING THE LT MLG.
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: 2,043 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 1,934 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,345 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 335° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.