Cessna A188B accident near Samson, Alabama, August 27, 1983
On August 27, 1983 at about 11:30 am local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N9172R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Samson, Alabama. 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
- August 27, 1983 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Samson, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9172R · no longer on the register · serial 18802138T
- 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 ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER AN INFLT POWER LOSS. THE PILOT WAS ENROUTE TO A FIELD AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE PILOT DID NOT JETTISON HIS LOAD OF CHEMICALS. HE LANDED ON WET GRASS AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME TO AVOID THE EMBANKMENT. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE CRANKSHAFTWAS BROKEN BETWEEN THE #3 MAIN JOURNAL AND THE #3 CONNECTING ROD JOURNAL. THE #3 MAIN BEARINGS WERE WORN AND HAD BEEN ROTATING ON THE CRANKSHAFT. THE FRACTURED SURFACE OF THE CRANKSHAFT APPEARED TO CONTAIN FATIGUE RELATED MARKINGS. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATING 2160 HOURS, 877 SINCE OVERHAUL. THE OWNERS KNOW OF NO HISTORY OF PROPELLER GROUND STRIKES.
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: 3,150 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 3,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,160 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 8, 1983; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: AG Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 0J7 Samson AL at 11:20 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.