Cessna A188B accident near Ogden, Utah, June 20, 2009
On June 20, 2009 at about 2:08 am local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N731GE, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Ogden, Utah (Ogden-Hinckley 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
A partial loss of engine power due to the number one cylinder air induction tube becoming disconnected for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2009 · about 2:08 am local time
- Place
- Ogden, Utah · Ogden-Hinckley · 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
- N731GE · no longer on the register · serial 18802878T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Immediately after liftoff, the pilot of the loaded aerial application airplane remained in ground effect to verify his instruments. After confirming that the engine rpms and manifold pressure were within limits, he tried to initiate his after-takeoff climb. At that point he noticed that he had no climb performance, and elected to make a forced landing straight ahead, off the end of the runway, before reaching the end of the airport property. During the forced landing, the airplane’s right wing struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to its structure. Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the number one cylinder air induction tube had become disconnected from the induction air manifold. The clamp on the tube was still in place, and there had been no recent maintenance associated with the induction system. The reason for the separation of the tube could not be determined.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › Air intake › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,210 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 1,600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 14, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,044 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 2009; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Thomas Helicopters INC.
The flight
- Departed from: OGD Ogden UT at 2:10 am
- Destination: OGD Ogden UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 8,103 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KOGD
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 N731GE 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.