Casualties unknown

Engine Failure During Aerial Application Leads to Emergency Landing and Damage (N9084R)

Table Rock, NE, US

On May 26, 1989, a Cessna 188 (registration N9084R) was involved in an aviation accident near Table Rock, NE. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENTS DUE TO OIL STARVATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND ON. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

The pilot of an aerial application aircraft experienced an engine failure. An emergency landing on rough terrain caused substantial damage. Investigation discovered catastrophic engine failure due to oil starvation, but the reason for oil loss remains unknown.

Incident Details

During an aerial application operation, the pilot reported that the engine failed. An emergency landing was attempted on rough terrain. The aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the landing.

Investigation Findings

A post-accident investigation was conducted. Examination of the engine revealed a catastrophic failure of its internal components. The failure was attributed to oil starvation. However, due to the extensive internal damage, investigators could not determine the specific reason for the oil starvation. No other contributing factors were identified.

The investigation concluded that the oil starvation event could not be linked to a definitive cause given the condition of the engine. The aircraft was significantly damaged during the emergency landing, and the engine failure was confirmed to be due to oil starvation.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X28408. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.