Cessna 188A accident near Martin, South Dakota, June 4, 1990
On June 4, 1990 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Cessna 188A, registered N78516, was substantially damaged in an accident near Martin, South Dakota (Old Martin Numicipal 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
THE ON-GROUND LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE OPTIMUM TAKEOFF FLAPS FOR THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS THAT EXISTED, AND THE SOFT WET RUNWAY SURFACE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1990 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Martin, South Dakota · Old Martin Numicipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188A · all 188As on the register
- Registration
- N78516 · no longer on the register · serial 18801953T
- 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 ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A WET, MUDDY, 2600-FT LONG SOD RUNWAY (ELEVATION 3300FEET MSL) WITH FULL FUEL AND 70 GALLONS OF 2-4-D. THE AIRPLANE WAS COMPUTED TO BE BELOW ITS MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT. THE PILOT SELECTED 5 DEGREES FLAPS. OPTIMUM TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE IS ACHIEVED USING 20 DEGREES FLAPS. TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88 DEGREES AND THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM THE WEST-NORTHWEST AT 2-3 MPH. PERFORMANCE FIGURES INIDICATE THE AIRPLANE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKEOFF. THE PILOT TOLD AN FAA INSPECTOR THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF MOMENTARILY THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT'S ACCIDENT REPORT SAID THE AIRPLANE DID NOT BECOME AIRBORNE AND THIS DISCREPANCY COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, WENT THROUGH A SMALL POND, STRUCK THE SHOULDER OF A ROAD, SLID ACROSS THE ROAD, AND CAME TO REST ON ITS NOSE IN A LARGE POND.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 25,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,390 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1990; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D23 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Martin SD at 11:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N78516 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.