Cessna 172 accident near Adel, Georgia, August 17, 1988
On August 17, 1988 at about 6:50 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N65790, was destroyed in an accident near Adel, Georgia (Cook County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 17, 1988 · about 6:50 am local time
- Place
- Adel, Georgia · Cook County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N65790 · registry record · serial 17275889
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD BEEN BRIEFED ON THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ALONG THE INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND AT HIS ALTERNATE, AND HAD REPORTED VISUAL CONTACT. LOCAL WITNESSES REPORTED LOW CEILINGS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TV/RADIO TOWER GUY WIRE. THE TOWER FELL ON THE TRANSMITTER BUILDING. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD AND BURNED. THE TOWER WAS EQUIPPED WITH A FLASHING STROBE LIGHT.
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: 71 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,634 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1988; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Air Valdosta, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Augusta GA at 4:15 am
- Destination: VLD Valdosta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 am from VLD, 35 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.