Cessna A188B accident near Burley, Idaho, July 13, 1991
On July 13, 1991 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N6302G, was destroyed in an accident near Burley, Idaho. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS INCLUDE IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH A TREE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1991 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Burley, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6302G · no longer on the register · serial 18801185
- Damage
- Destroyed
- 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 CESSNA 188 STATED THAT HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT, EN ROUTE TO AN AERIAL APPLICATION, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT FELT HE WAS TOO LOW FOR ANY EMERGENCY CORRECTIVE ACTION, SO HE DUMPED HIS CHEMICAL LOAD, AND ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A VACANT LOT NEAR THE CENTER OF TOWN. DURING THE FLARE THE WING OF THE AIRCRAFT HIT A TREE, CAUSING IT TO SEPARATE JUST PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT.
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: 8,401 hours in all; 680 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 8,047 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BYI Burley ID at 1:30 am
- Destination: BYI Burley ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- 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.
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.