Cessna A188 accident near Columbus, Mississippi, May 1, 1982
On May 1, 1982 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna A188, registered N9557G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Mississippi (Private Farm Field). 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1982 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Mississippi · Private Farm Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188 · all A188s on the register
- Registration
- N9557G · no longer on the register · serial 18801533
- 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 HAD LANDED IN A FARMER'S FIELD TO RELOAD HIS SPRAYER TANK. BEFORE TAKEOFF, HE NOTICED SOME COWS HAD STRAYED ONTO THE STRIP. HE DIRECTED HIS LOADCREW ASSISTANT TO TAKE HIS TRUCK AND CLEAR THE COWS FROM THE STRIP. AFTER THE COWS WERE CLEARED, THE ASSISTANT PARKED THE TRUCK ABOUT 400 TO 600 FT FROM THE END OF THE STRIP. IT WAS FACING PERPENDICULAR TO THE DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF. AS THE PILOT STARTED HIS TAKEOFF, A COW RAN ACROSS THE STRIP FROM BEHIND THE TRUCK. FROM THAT POINT, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE COW. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUCK THE COW AND THE PLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK THE FENCE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,644 hours in all; 780 in this make and model; 280 in the last 90 days; 2,644 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,985 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 280 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Columbus MS at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Columbus MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 162°F (72°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N9557G 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.