Cessna 172M accident near Warner-Robins, Georgia, December 26, 1987
On December 26, 1987 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N13609, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warner-Robins, Georgia (Robins Afb airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- December 26, 1987 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Warner-Robins, Georgia · Robins Afb · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N13609 · no longer on the register · serial 17262881
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-IFR RATED PLT DPTD IN VFR WX. HE SUBSEQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED IFR WX SEVERAL HRS AFTER DEPARTURE AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE ON TO HIS DESTINATION ARPT IN IFR CONDITIONS. HE MADE SEVERAL VOR APPROACHES TO THE DESTINATION ARPT. BUT WAS UNABLE TO VISUALLY LOCATE THE ARPT AND LAND. HE SUBSEQUENTLY OBTAINED ATC ASSISTANCE AND RECEIVED VECTORS TO ROBINS AFB IN WARNER-ROBINS. THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING THE APPROACH AND THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES ABOUT 8 NM FROM ROBINS AFB. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LOST PWR DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT CONFIRMED THIS. THE PLT NOTED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE TURNED AROUND WHEN HE FIRST ENCOUNTERED THE IFR WX.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,067 hours in all; 615 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 989 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWO Hollywood FL at 10:15 am
- Destination: 02J Cordele GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 12,000 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:06 pm from WRB, 8 miles away
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.