Cessna A188 accident near Hillsboro, Alabama, September 1, 1982
On September 1, 1982 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Cessna A188, registered N9759V, was destroyed in an accident near Hillsboro, Alabama. 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 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
- September 1, 1982 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188 · all A188s on the register
- Registration
- N9759V · no longer on the register · serial 188-0209
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE MAKING A SWATH RUN TO THE WEST OVER UNEVEN TERRAIN, HIS RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE COTTON CROP THAT HE WAS SPRAYING. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AND BEGAN TO BURN AFTER COMING TO REST INVERTED. THE PILOT ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES BEFORE THE FLAMES SPREAD. HE REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHWEST WITH GUSTS TO 30 KTS.
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: 10,108 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 380 in the last 90 days; 10,108 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,180 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Courtland AL at 1:30 pm
- Destination: Local
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 30 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 180°F (82°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.