Cessna 170 accident near Cassville, Missouri, May 21, 1988
On May 21, 1988 at about 2:35 am local time, a Cessna 170, registered N2585V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cassville, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 21, 1988 · about 2:35 am local time
- Place
- Cassville, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N2585V · no longer on the register · serial 18090
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC DPTD TEXAS ENR TO BOLIVAR, MO WITH A STOP FOR FUEL IN PINEBLUFF, ARK WITH TWO REVENUE PAX'S ABOARD. THE PIC STATED THAT THE PAX WOULD TRY TO LOCATE THE ARPT BY VISUALLY IDENTIFYING THE LIGHTS OF THE CITY. THE PIC STATED THEY WANDERED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT LIGHTS. THE PIC FURTHER STATED THAT FUEL WAS LOW AND HE WOULD LAND AT AN ARPT SPOTTED EARLIER. DURING THE CIRCLING DESCENT OVER THE ARPT, THE PIC STATED THE ENG QUIT AND AN OFF ARPT FORCED LNDG WAS MADE. CARB ICING COND'S WERE PREVELANT AND THE PIC DID NOT USE CARB HEAT DURING THE PWR OFF DESCENT. NO MECH PBLM WAS DISCOVERED DURING THE POST-CRASH INSP. THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE PWR TO THE ENG.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 950 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,527 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1988; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PBF Pinebluff AR
- Destination: H29 Bolivar MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 am from SGF, 48 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N2585V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.