Cessna 182 accident near Bamberg, South Carolina, August 23, 1988
On August 23, 1988 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5797B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bamberg, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- August 23, 1988 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Bamberg, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5797B · no longer on the register · serial 33797
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE AT CRUISE, THE PILOT REPORTED HEARING A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHORTLY AFTERWARD THE ENG QUIT. DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT TEETH FROM THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT GEARS WERE FOUND IN THE OIL SUMP. A DETAILED COMPONENT EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE TEETH FROM THE CAMSHAFT GEAR HAD FAILED IN FATIGUE. THE TACHOMETER INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATED 89 HOURS SINCE THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED IN 1981.
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: 1,035 hours in all; 461 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 980 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,383 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1988; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLO Florence SC at 1:08 pm
- Destination: ALD Allendale SC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 006° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from CRE
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.
Other NTSB records under N5797B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.