Cessna T188C accident near Bathgate, North Dakota, July 19, 1991
On July 19, 1991 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N2056J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bathgate, North Dakota (Craig (Private) 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
A LOSS OF CONTROL INFLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE CROP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1991 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Bathgate, North Dakota · Craig (Private) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2056J · no longer on the register · serial 03346T
- 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 WAS TAKING OFF WITH FULL CHEMICAL AND FUEL LOAD TO INITIATE AN AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 80 DEGREES F. THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE AT THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP, SETTLED AND DRAGGED A WING IN A WHEAT FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN THE WHEAT FIELD 600 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
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
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 145 in this make and model; 127 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,170 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1990; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Craig Air Spray, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 28.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N2056J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.