Cessna 172F accident near Shellman, Georgia, May 21, 1988
On May 21, 1988 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172F, registered N8374U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shellman, Georgia (Barbour Insland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1988 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Shellman, Georgia · Barbour Insland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8374U · no longer on the register · serial 17252274
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS MAKING A PERSONAL FLT TO A PVT UNCHARTED AIRSTRIP ON A COASTAL ISLAND. APPROACHING HIS DESTINATION, THE PLT CANCELLED HIS VFR FLT PLAN WITH FSS. THE PLT STATED THAT HE APPROACHED THE SOFT 2500 FOOT STRIP HIGH AND BALLOONED AT TOUCHDOWN. HE LANDED BEYOND HIS DESIRED TOUCHDOWN POINT AND ELECTED TO TAKEOFF AGAIN WHEN HE FELT HE COULD NOT STOP PRIOR TO REACHING THE CREEK AT THE END OF THE RWY. HE ADDED FULL PWR AND THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO COMPLETELY CLEAR BUSHES AT THE END OF THE RWY. AFTER CONTACTING THE BUSHES THE AIRPLANE LOST ALTITUDE AND TOUCHED DOWN IN THE MARSH BEYOND THE CREEK.
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: 143 hours in all; 143 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 77 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,101 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 17, 1987; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8A4 Marietta GA at 1:40 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 2,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.