# Accident 19990624007569A: Cessna 188B, Big Sandy, MT, June 24, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 24, 1999, 12:30 local time
- Place: Big Sandy, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 48.0003° N, 110.0808° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0003&lon=-110.0808&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4788Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4788Q-2000-01-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A188B (registry code 2073005, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 188B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA99LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA095) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990624007569A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT STRUCK A POWER LINE DURING AERIAL APPLICATION AND CRASHED, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (.19) ON JUNE 24, 1999, APPROXIMATELY 1230 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA A188B, N4788Q, COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE DURING A CFR PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT ABOUT 25 MILES SOUTH OF BIG SANDY, MONTANA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY BIG SANDY SPRAYING SERVICE, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS BEING OPERATED IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED, AND THERE WAS NO REPORT OF AN ELT ACTIVATION. ACCORDING TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES, THE PILOT WAS PULLING UP FROM THE END OF AN APPLICATION RUN WHEN THE AIRCRAFT FLEW INTO THE WIRE.  THE PILOT SAID THAT HE KNEW THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROACHING THE WIRE, BUT JUST AS HE INITATED HIS PULL-UP TO CLEAR IT, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT.(-23) PIC STATED THAT ON INITIAL AGRICULTURAL PASS, A/C STRUCK POWER POLE AFTER INITATING PULL UP.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA99LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA095), Jun 24, 1999: Cessna A188B (N4788Q), Big Sandy, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance between the wire and his aircraft. A transmission wire and downdraft were factors.

## Other reports on N4788Q (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19931011038509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931011038509A), Oct 11, 1993: Cessna A188B (N4788Q), Wall, SD, Substantial damage. Just purchased. Lost directional control landing. Skidded off runway. Collapsed left main gear.
- [Accident 19910909038859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910909038859A), Sep 9, 1991: Cessna A188B (N4788Q), Belgrade, NE, Substantial damage. Unable to sustain flight on takeoff climb. Settled into cornfield. Blamed a downdraft.
- [Accident 19810801048239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810801048239A), Aug 1, 1981: Cessna 188CESSNA (N4788Q), Rising City, NE, Substantial damage. Aircraft lifted off during takeoff then settled back to the ground in next field, causing crash.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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