What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On August 2, 1997, at 2030 central daylight time, a Cessna A188A, N9902G, operated by dale's flying service, collided with the terrain during a 14 CFR part 137 aerial application flight in Norfolk, Nebraska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Norfolk, Nebraska, at approximately 2015 CDT. (.4) the pilot had followed another heavily loaded Cessna 188 out to the field which he was to spray. He did not know the other airplane's flight path, as it departed the area upon reaching the field. The pilot made one swath run from south to north along the eastern edge of the field prior to making a 270 degree turn and lining up to make the second swath run from east to west along the north side of the field. He reported that after leveling off about four feet above the field, the airplane suddenly encountered 'bad air' at which time it settled to impact with the terrain. The pilot later discovered that this second swath run was perpendicular through the flight path of the other airplane.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON AUGUST 2, 1997, AT 2030 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA A188A, N9902G, OPERATED BY DALE'S FLYING SERVICE, COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN DURING A 14 CFR PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT IN NORFOLK, NEBRASKA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM NORFOLK, NEBRASKA, AT APPROXIMATELY 2015 CDT. (.4) THE PILOT HAD FOLLOWED ANOTHER HEAVILY LOADED CESSNA 188 OUT TO THE FIELD WHICH HE WAS TO SPRAY. HE DID NOT KNOW THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT PATH, AS IT DEPARTED THE AREA UPON REACHING THE FIELD. THE PILOT MADE ONE SWATH RUN FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ALONG THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE FIELD PRIOR TO MAKING A 270 DEGREE TURN AND LINING UP TO MAKE THE SECOND SWATH RUN FROM EAST TO WEST ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FIELD. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER LEVELING OFF ABOUT FOUR FEET ABOVE THE FIELD, THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY ENCOUNTERED 'BAD AIR' AT WHICH TIME IT SETTLED TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THIS SECOND SWATH RUN WAS PERPENDICULAR THROUGH THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE OTHER AIRPLANE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.