Cessna 172 and Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Lamar, Missouri, July 27, 1988
On July 27, 1988 at about 6:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172 (N29168) and Air Tractor AT-301 (N5017S), were involved in the same accident near Lamar, Missouri (Lamar Muni airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 27, 1988 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lamar, Missouri · Lamar Muni · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N29168 · registry record · serial 17264105
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Registration
- N5017S · registry record · serial AT 301 106
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LDG ROLL, THE STUDENT PILOT RETURNING FROM A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, COLLIDED WITH AN AERIAL APPLICATION ACFT, THAT PULLED ON TO THE INTERSECTION FOR TAKEOFF. THE STUDENT PLT ATTEMPTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE OTHER ACFT PRIOR TO LDG, BUT THE SPRAY PLANE HAD NO RADIO.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Air Tractor AT-301 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF THE AERIAL APPLICATOR ACFT SAID HE WAS PULLING OUT FOR AN INTERSECTION DEPARTURE ON RWY 21, WHEN THE CESSNA ON A LANDING ROLL, STRUCK HIM FROM THE REAR. THE PILOT SAID THAT POSSIBLY THE BACKGROUND, HAZE, AND AIRFRAME COMPONENTS MADE THE INCOMING ACFT DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE AG ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH TWO-WAY RADIO EQUIPMENT.
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 for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,104 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 22, 1988; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NVD Nevada MO at 5:30 pm
- Destination: LLU
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,910 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 17,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from JLN, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Air Tractor AT-301 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 24,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,566 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,652 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 24, 1988; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LLU
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,910 ft by 40 ft
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.