Casualties unknown

Aerial Application Aircraft Stalls During Left Turn, Collides with Ground (N9766V)

Richland, WA, US

On June 17, 1997, a Cessna A188 (registration N9766V) was involved in an aviation accident near Richland, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. Inadequate in-flight planning and high obstructions that restricted evasive maneuvers were factors. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

An agricultural aircraft stalled while turning to avoid power lines and high terrain, then struck the ground wings level and was consumed by post-crash fire. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions.

Accident Sequence

The pilot was performing an aerial application spray run and had just completed it when he began a left turn. During the turn, he felt the onset of a stall buffet. High terrain and power lines were in the vicinity. The pilot lost sight of the power lines and, with high terrain in the flight path, chose to continue the left turn to avoid a collision with the lines.

As the turn progressed, airspeed and altitude continued to decay. The airplane subsequently collided with the ground at minimum airspeed and with the wings level. A post-crash fire ignited and consumed the aircraft.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X08259. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.