Cessna 188A accident near Belding, Michigan, June 3, 1989
On June 3, 1989, a Cessna 188A, registered N5658J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belding, Michigan. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT ASSESSMENT OF THE RUNWAY CONDITION/AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES, AND THE AIRCRAFT'S RESULTANT FAILURE TO ATTAIN FLYING SPEED. SOFT TERRAIN IS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1989
- Place
- Belding, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188A · all 188As on the register
- Registration
- N5658J · no longer on the register · serial 18800608
- 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 STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO DEPART FROM A 2,000 FOOT LONG SOD STRIP WITH A LOAD OF MALATHION FOR AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A SOGGY PORTION OF THE AIRSTRIP AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE TO ROTATION SPEED. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND STRUCK A SMALL TREE BEFORE IT IMPACTED A DIRT BANK AND CAME TO A STOP.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,651 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 1989; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Belding MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.