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Accidents · NTSB ATL86LA166 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna A188B accident near Magnolia Spring, Alabama, June 7, 1986

On June 7, 1986 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N9105R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Magnolia Spring, 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 7, 1986 · about 2:30 pm local time · cases in 1986
Place
Magnolia Spring, Alabama · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
Registration
N9105R · registry record · serial 18802119T
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

DURING A SPRAY RUN THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB OVER A TALL TREE, THE ACFT FAILED TO CLEAR THE TREE WHICH WAS CONTACTED WITH THE RIGHT WING. THE ACFT THEN CRASH LANDED IN A FIELD. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO STAGGER DURING SEVERAL TURNS EARLIER IN THE OPERATION. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED.

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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
  • Flight time: 1,606 hours in all; 8 in the last 90 days; 1,447 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,780 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1986; 19 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental IO-520-D-23 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: AL51 Magnolia Spring AL at 2:15 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 2,400 ft
  • Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
  • Observation at 1:52 pm from MOB, 39 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
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Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL86LA166.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.