Cessna 188 accident near Pembina, North Dakota, July 9, 2020
On July 9, 2020 at about 1:05 pm local time, a 1975 Cessna 188, registered CGWWE, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Pembina, North Dakota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under non-U.S. commercial rules. 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control during an aerial spray turnaround in high crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2020 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Pembina, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188, built 1975 · all 188s on the register
- Registration
- CGWWE · no longer on the register · serial 18802232T
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was spraying a field with north-south passes. During a left turn from the south toward the north, the airplane impacted the ground with the left wing down on a southeasterly heading. Due to the pilot’s injuries, he did not recall the accident sequence. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Strong westerly wind at the time of the accident likely created a ground track challenge during the turnaround. Based on the airplane’s impact with the left wing down and significant forward groundspeed, the pilot likely either exceeded the critical angle of attack or developed a high sink rate during the turnaround and was not able to regain control prior to ground impact.
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 in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Other weather encounter during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 329 hours in all; 169 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 193 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 24, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,344 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 1,920 hours total
- Operator: Southeast Air Services
The flight
- Departed from: CJL6 Altona OF at 11:45 am
- Destination: CJL6 Altona OF
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from K2C8, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on February 23, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Correspondence | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Diagram of Accident Site from FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Aircraft Examinations Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | GPS Devices - Attempted Download Information | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Wreckage Release | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.