Cessna T188C accident near Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, May 27, 2015
On May 27, 2015 at about 1:00 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna T188C, registered N1965J, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Pine Bluffs, Wyoming (Pine Bluffs Municipal airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control to the right for reasons that could not be determined during examination of the right main landing gear wheel and brake drum.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2015 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pine Bluffs, Wyoming · Pine Bluffs Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C, built 1978 · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1965J · no longer on the register · serial T18803308T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the wind was light and variable during the landing approach. Upon touchdown and the pilot's application of forward elevator control, the airplane veered sharply right. The pilot made "full aerodynamic controls" inputs and applied the left brake, but the airplane did not stop veering right. The airplane subsequently departed the right side of the runway and struck a small berm, which bent the left main landing gear aft. The airplane slid to a stop, crushing the engine cowling and wrinkling both wings. The only skid marks found on the runway after the accident were made by the left tire. When the airplane was raised by a lift, the right tire assembly spun freely. The right brake drum was found to be deeply grooved, but there was no indication that the right wheel had seized. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,538 hours in all; 390 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,260 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 7, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,058 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Circle S Aviation, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 81V Pine Bluffs WY at 11:40 am
- Destination: 82V Pine Bluffs WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 5,331 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from 82V
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.