Cessna T-188C accident near Goodland, Kansas, February 9, 1988
On February 9, 1988 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Cessna T-188C, registered N4509J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goodland, Kansas (Goodland airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
- February 9, 1988 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Goodland, Kansas · Goodland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T-188C · all T-188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N4509J · registry record · serial T18803741T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING A CERTIFICATED EXPERIMENTAL AG ACFT, FOR PURPOSE OF COMPLIANCE WITH FAR REGULATIONS, THE EMPLOYEE OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION LOST CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLLOUT. THE WIND CONDITIONS, RELATIVE TO THE RUNWAY, WERE ABOUT A 80 DEGREE CROSS WIND, WITH A VELOCITY OF 20 GUSTING TO 32 KNOTS. THE PIC SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO PREVENT THE ACFT FROM VEERING OFF THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT LDG GEAR WAS BROKEN OFF AND THE LEFT WING SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE ACFT CAME TO REST ABOUT 160 DEGREES FROM THE RUNWAY HEADING.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 9,570 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 8,959 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,860 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 1988; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GLD Goodland KS at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 20 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from GLD, 1 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.