Cessna 172 accident near Jackson, Tennessee, February 22, 1988
On February 22, 1988 at about 7:32 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6285E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, Tennessee (Mckellar Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- February 22, 1988 · about 7:32 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, Tennessee · Mckellar Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6285E · registry record · serial 46385
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE RETURNING HOME WITH HIS NEWLY PURCHASED ACFT THE PLT MADE A REFUELING STOP. THE WINDS WERE STRONG AND GUSTING UPWARDS OF THIRTY KTS AT THE REFUELING ARPT AND THE DESTINATION ARPT. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE WINDS SHIFTED TO A RIGHT CROSSWIND. THE ACFT ROLLED LEFT AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.
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: 113 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 76 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,377 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 1988; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,075 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKL at 7:32 pm
- Destination: EKQ Monticello KY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 20, 6,008 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 22 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from MKL
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.