Cessna 188 accident near Saratoga, Wyoming, July 1, 2016
On July 1, 2016 at about 2:00 am local time, a 1976 Cessna 188, registered N60691, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Saratoga, Wyoming (Shively Field). 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll resulting in substantial damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2016 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Saratoga, Wyoming · Shively Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188 B, built 1976 · all 188s on the register
- Registration
- N60691 · no longer on the register · serial 18802806T
- 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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he landed on an asphalt runway after completing an aerial application flight. He reported that during the landing roll, he ground looped the airplane to the right, the airplane exited the runway to the right, and the left wing struck the taxiway indicator sign. The left aileron sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,036.8 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 198 in the last 90 days; 67 in the last 30 days; 936 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 8, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D2313 (piston); 3,184 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAA Saratoga WY at 1:00 am
- Destination: SAA Saratoga WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 8,801 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 am from KSAA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N60691 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.