Cessna T-188 accident near Devils Lake, North Dakota, July 9, 1990
On July 9, 1990, a Cessna T-188, registered N2087J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Devils Lake, North Dakota. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FORCED LANDING IN ROUGH TERRAIN IS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1990 · cases in 1990
- Place
- Devils Lake, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T-188 · all T-188s on the register
- Registration
- N2087J · registry record · serial T-18803377T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS FLYING TO CLEAN HIS SPRAY EQUIPMENT. DURING LOW LEVEL CRUISE, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT STATED IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION THAT HE HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT SELECTED A FIELD AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. DURING LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT SPRAY BOOM DUG INTO THE TERRAIN AND THE PLANE WAS TWISTED, DAMAGING THE FUSELAGE, TAIL SECTION AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,031 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 4,913 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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 N2087J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2087J on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna T188 42 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,676 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T1 4,110 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in North Dakota 581 since 1982 · 59 in the last ten years
- North Dakota 2,493 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N2087J 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN90LA158.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.