Ryan NAVION accident near Cumming, Georgia, August 7, 1988
On August 7, 1988 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Ryan NAVION, registered N4575K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cumming, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- August 7, 1988 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cumming, Georgia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N4575K · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-1575
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO ENROUTE WEATHER. AFTER CONDITIONS HAD IMPROVED HE OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR HIS INTENDED DESTINATION. HE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE TSTMS IN THE AREA BUT THAT CONDITIONS WERE VFR. AFTER DEPARTURE FROM THE ENROUTE STOP, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TRANSFER FUEL FROM AN AUX TANK. HE TURNED THE PUMP ON BUT DID NOT OPEN THE TRANSFER VALVE. WHEN HE ARRIVED OVER HIS DESTINATION, THERE WAS HEAVY RAIN OVER THE AIRPORT. HE ELECTED TO DIVERT TO AN ALTERNATE. ON THE WAY TO THE ALTERNATE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER FROM FUEL STARVATION AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN LAKE LANIER. THERE WERE 20 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE AUX TANK AT THE TIME OF 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 299 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 299 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,724 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,233 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BGBR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOC Toccoa GA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 5GA4 Woodstock GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from PDK, 21 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.