Cessna 188 accident near Glasgow, Montana, June 14, 2011
On June 14, 2011 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 188, registered N9802V, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Glasgow, Montana (Glasgow Internationall Airport). 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
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2011 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Glasgow, Montana · Glasgow Internationall Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188 · all 188s on the register
- Registration
- N9802V · no longer on the register · serial 188-0052
- 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 was flying at 700 feet over a field in order to judge whether it could be sprayed. The engine lost power and the pilot made a forced landing in the field. The airplane landed hard in wet grass, damaging the landing gear and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that he had lost track of time and ran out of fuel causing the loss of power. He additionally reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal flight.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 1,131 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 3, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,878 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2010; 20 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gus T'S Aircraft Inc
The flight
- Departed from: KGGW Glasgow MT
- Destination: KGGW Glasgow MT
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 254° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 100 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KGGW, 5 miles away
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 N9802V 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.