Cessna 188 accident near Osage City, Kansas, March 29, 1985
On March 29, 1985 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 188, registered N9959G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Osage City, Kansas (Osage City airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- March 29, 1985 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Osage City, Kansas · Osage City · 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
- N9959G · no longer on the register · serial 18800759
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS PRACTICING LANDING AT THE AIRPORT WHEN DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT AT LANDING THE ACFT SWERVED OFF THE RWY. THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED AFTER DEPARTING THE RWY AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PLT RPTD THE BRAKES GRABBED ASYMETRICALLY PULLING THE ACFT OFF THE RWY. WITNESSES STATED THE PLT HAD DIFFICULTY HANDLING THE ACFT DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPTS. NO MECHANICAL DESCREPANCY WAS NOTED BY A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ACFT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 245 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 240 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1984; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 53K Osage City KS at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,560 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from EMP, 20 miles away
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.