No fatalities

Cessna A188 B accident at Hartington, NE, 27 Jul 2020

Hartington, NE, United States

On July 27, 2020, a Cessna A188 B operated by BECKER FLYING SERVICE INC was involved in an aviation accident near Hartington, NE. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to ensure that the engine oil cap was installed before takeoff, which resulted in the oil obscuring the pilot’s view through the windshield and necessitated a forced landing on unsuitable terrain. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 14 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to ensure that the engine oil cap was installed before takeoff, which resulted in the oil obscuring the pilot’s view through the windshield and necessitated a forced landing on unsuitable terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s complacency and self-induced pressure to complete the flight.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Causes

Inadequate inspectionPilot

Other contributing factors

Fluid level

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 27 Jul 2020 Cessna A188 B accident near Hartington, NE?

The pilot's failure to ensure that the engine oil cap was installed before takeoff, which resulted in the oil obscuring the pilot’s view through the windshield and necessitated a forced landing on unsuitable terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s complacency and self-induced pressure to complete the…

Were there any fatalities in the 27 Jul 2020 Cessna A188 B accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 27 Jul 2020 involved a Cessna A188 B, operated by BECKER FLYING SERVICE INC, at Hartington, NE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to ensure that the engine oil cap was installed before takeoff, which resulted in the oil obscuring the pilot’s view through the windshield and necessitated a forced landing on unsuitable terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s complacency and self-induced pressure to complete the…