Cessna A188B accident near Saco, Montana, June 10, 1983
On June 10, 1983 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N4812Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saco, Montana. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 1983 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Saco, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4812Q · no longer on the register · serial 18802550T
- 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 ACFT COLLIDED WITH TELEPHONE LINES DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION RUN. THE PILOT'S SON REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS PULLING UP AT THE END OF A SPRAY RUN WHEN THE WIRES WERE HIT. MOST OF THE WIRES IN THIS AREA ARE UNDERGROUND HOWEVER THEWIRES AT THE END OF THIS FIELD WERE ON POLES. THE WIRES THAT WERE STRUCK WERE ABOUT 20 FT AGL AND CONSISTED OF 4 ARMORED CABLES. THESE ARE VERY STRONG CABLES AND DID NOT BREAK BUT SEVERAL OF THE POLES WERE SNAPPED OFF. THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND AFTER THE WIRE STRIKE AND TURNED 165 DEGREES. THE PILOT CRAWLED OUT OF THE WRECKAGE AND WAS FOUND 1/2 HR LATER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,100 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 13,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,107 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 2, 1983; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLK Malta MT at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from GGW, 33 miles away
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.