Cessna A188B accident near Indianola, Nebraska, July 20, 1985
On July 20, 1985 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N4848Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianola, Nebraska (Laverty airport). 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
- July 20, 1985 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Indianola, Nebraska · Laverty · 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
- N4848Q · no longer on the register · serial 18802584
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N4848Q WAS LOADED TO MAX GROSS WT AND WAS TAKING OFF ON A 2,350 FT, TURF RWY. THE PLT SAID THE WIND WAS LIGHT AND FAVORED RWY 29 BEFORE TAKEOFF. THE DENSITY ALT WAS ABOUT 2,500 FT. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT DID NOT SEEM TO BE DEVELOPING QUITE THE POWER IT SHOULD HAVE DURING THE TAKEOFF BUT THE INSTRUMENTS INDICATED NORMAL OPERATION. THE ACFT USED THE FULL LENGTH OF THE RWY TO TAKEOFF BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR A FENCE OFF THE END. THE ACFT HIT THE TOP OF THE FENCE AND CRASHED IN THE FIELD BEYOND. THE PLT SAID THAT AS HE WAS WALKING BACK TO THE AIRPORT AFTER THE ACDT HE NOTED THAT THE AIRPORT WINSOCK SHOWED THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHEAST.
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: 2,665 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,940 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1985; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,350 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from DSM, 9 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.