Cessna A188B accident near Opheim, Montana, June 29, 1996
On June 29, 1996 at about 11:25 am local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N731ED, was substantially damaged in an accident near Opheim, Montana (Opheim 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 pilot's failure to follow the proper short field takeoff procedure as specified in the Airplane Flight Manual, his improper use of wing flaps during the takeoff, and his failure to abort the takeoff (while there was sufficient runway remainin). A factor relating to the accident was: the presence of a berm beyond the end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1996 · about 11:25 am local time
- Place
- Opheim, Montana · Opheim · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N731ED · no longer on the register · serial 18802831T
- 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 stated that he loaded his airplane with herbicide and fuel in preparation for a local aerial application flight. He began to take off to the north on a 2,675-foot grass airstrip, after determining that light winds were from the southwest. After traversing about two-thirds of the runway without becoming airborne, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. He then began another takeoff to the south from the opposite end of the runway. He selected 'full flaps' for the takeoff. After traversing half of the runway, the airplane's tail 'came up,' and the airplane began to bounce up and down along the remaining runway length. The airplane overran the runway and impacted a berm, and its tail section was substantially damaged. The flaps were found in the fully extended (20 degree) position at the accident site. According to the airplane flight manual, the flaps should not be placed beyond the 10-degree position for a short field takeoff. The inspector also stated that the operator did not hold a valid agriculture operating certificate at the time of the accident.
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
- Flight time: 640 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 557 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,663 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 1996; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,675 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°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 N731ED 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.