- Date
- May 26, 2015, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place
- Polson, MT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N53141Cessna 188
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 29, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration (Helena FSDO)
- FAA report
- 20150526006349A
- Case key
- 91239
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane pitch, power, and turn coordination while maneuvering at low altitude, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and a collision with terrain.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while maneuvering at low altitude on an aerial application flight, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing of the airplane. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while maneuvering at low altitude on an aerial application flight, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing of the airplane. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N53141
- Reported as
- Cessna 188 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 188-0120
- Built
- 1966
- Airframe hours
- 3,643.75
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-470 SERIES, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 9, 2015 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- 7S0 · Ronan, MT
- Destination
- PVT · Polson, MT
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1
- Last flight review
- February 16, 2015
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 491 total · 131 in this make and model · 436 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 27 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- MSO, 37 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 23, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 13.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.