Cessna A188B accident near New Bern, North Carolina, October 21, 2006
On October 21, 2006 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N9176R, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Bern, North Carolina. 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
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's continued operation of the airplane with known deficiencies with the engine, which resulted in a forced landing and in-flight collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2006 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- New Bern, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9176R · no longer on the register · serial 18802140T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the takeoff climb at about 100 to 150 feet above ground level the engine shut down. He rolled the airplane level, pushed the nose over, and attempted a landing in a turf field. The airplane struck the ground substantially damaging the airplane. The pilot egressed the airplane with assistance from witnesses. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the landing gear, spray equipment, and the right wing separated from the airframe. Fuel was observed in both fuel tanks. Examination of the engine found the propeller separated from the engine crankshaft and the engine was seized due to impact damage. The engine was rotated 90-degrees within the engine mounts. Both magnetos and the fuel manifold were observed impact damaged. Oil was observed on the oil dipstick when it was removed. According to witnesses on the ground the engine was not running smoothly from the time of taxi through the takeoff and subsequent engine shut-down. The FAA Inspector further stated that the aircraft operator did not hold an FAA 14 CFR Part 137 Aerial Application Certificate at the time of the accident, as required by FAA regulation.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,945 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 145 in the last 30 days; 4,859 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,185.0 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2001; 214 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-570D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT New Bern NC at 10:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from GSO
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.
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.