Cessna 188B accident near Thornton, Iowa, June 1, 1982
On June 1, 1982 at about 11:55 am local time, a Cessna 188B, registered N21722, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thornton, Iowa. 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
- June 1, 1982 · about 11:55 am local time
- Place
- Thornton, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188B · all 188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N21722 · registry record · serial 1880098T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE SPRAYING A CORN FIELD, THE PILOT CROSSED UNDER A POWERLINE AT THE NORTH END OF THE FIELD. WHILE PASSING BENEATH THE LINES, HIS LEFT WING TIP STRUCK THE BOTTOM WIRE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE LOST AILERON CONTROL AND LANDED IN A CORN FIELD WITH NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. ALSO, HE REPORTED THAT THERE WAS MODERATE TURBULENCE AND HE ESTIMATED THE WIND FROM THE NORTHWEST AT ABOUT 10 KNOTS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,677 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Two State Flying Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: Sheffield IA at 6:30 am
- Destination: Sheffield IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 140°F (60°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.