Cessna A188 accident near Scotland, South Dakota, May 19, 2007
On May 19, 2007 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna A188, registered N926LT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scotland, South Dakota (Burke Field 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Factors contributing to the accident were the sudden wind shift and the low altitude at which the stall occurred.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2007 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Scotland, South Dakota · Burke Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188 · all A188s on the register
- Registration
- N926LT · registry record · serial 188-0347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the aircraft was taking off from runway 18 (2,600 feet by 90 feet, turf), the flight encountered a gust of wind from the north. The gust caused a decrease in airspeed and the airplane descended and impacted terrain in a planted cornfield near the departure end of the runway. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported prior to the accident.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 451 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 344 as pilot in command; 89 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1SD1 Scotland SD at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from KYKN, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI07CA148.