Cessna T188C accident near Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, May 15, 2013
On May 15, 2013 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N2167J, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Pine Bluffs, Wyoming (Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2013 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pine Bluffs, Wyoming · Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2167J · no longer on the register · serial T18803404T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot reported that he was conducting a solo practice flight in the piston-engine agricultural airplane. After takeoff and just as he started to turn the airplane from the upwind to the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot initiated an off-airport landing to a field. During the landing roll, the main wheels hit a berm, which resulted in the left main landing gear separating from the airframe. The left wing then struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing assembly. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal 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 engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 555 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 490 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 27, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,113 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Circle S Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 82V Pine Bluffs WY
- Destination: 82V Pine Bluffs WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,331 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from KIBM, 22 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.
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.