Cessna 172N accident near Gilbert, South Carolina, May 1, 1988
On May 1, 1988 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N5085K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gilbert, South Carolina (Bill Barrier Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- May 1, 1988 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gilbert, South Carolina · Bill Barrier Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5085K · registry record · serial 17273957
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN RWY 23 DURING LDG AND NOSED OVER. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LDG AFTER INITIALLY LANDING LONG ON THE RWY. AS THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO CLIMB HOWEVER, HE REALIZED THAT IT WOULD NOT CLEAR OBSTACLES LOCATED PAST THE END OF THE RWY. HE SUBSEQUENTLY ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND LANDED AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A WHEAT FIELD AT THE END OF THE RWY, WHERE THE NOSEWHEEL DUG INTO SOFT TERRAIN. A NEARBY WX OBSERVATION STATION REPORTED WINDS FROM 040 DEGREES AT 12 KTS, SHORTLY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: 102 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 51 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,895 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 27, 1987; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAE Columbia SC at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from CAE, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.