Cessna 170B accident near Bayard, Nebraska, May 17, 1988
On May 17, 1988 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N4510C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bayard, Nebraska. It was a business 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
- May 17, 1988 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bayard, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4510C · registry record · serial 25454
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE STARTED THE TRIP, FROM NEW MEXICO TO NORTH DAKOTA, THE EVENING PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. BECAUSE OF POOR WEATHER, THE PILOT RE-ROUTED THE FLIGHT THROUGH SEVERAL ALTERNATE FUEL AND OIL STOPS. THE FLIGHT WAS EN ROUTE TO A PLANNED FUEL STOP WHEN THE ENGINE LOST OIL PRESSURE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO FAR FROM A SUITABLE AIRPORT AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY. THE PILOT SECURED A RIDE TO THE NEAREST TOWN AND PURCHASED OIL. AFTER ADDING OIL TO THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE HE ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM THE HIGHWAY--AFTER GOING WITHOUT SLEEP FOR ALMOST 30 HOURS. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A SPEED LIMIT SIGN ON THE EDGE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH ITS RIGHT WING. THE PILOT THEN LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED INTO A DITCH.
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: 1,117 hours in all; 46 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 1,059 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,435 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FMN Farmington NM
- Destination: ISN Williston ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BFF, 14 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.