Cessna A188B accident near Statesboro, Georgia, March 30, 1989
On March 30, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N9583G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Statesboro, Georgia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Statesboro, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9583G · no longer on the register · serial 18801545T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT THE ENGINE HAD A TOTAL POWER LOSS. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED THREE TIMES DURING THE FORCED LANDING AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT FLIPPED OVER ON THE THIRD BOUNCE. THE PILOT MADE STATEMENTS TO THREE PERSONS THAT HE 'RAN OUT OF GAS'. A FOURTH PERSON ALLEGES THAT HE SAW FUEL RUNNING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TEST RUN AND OPERATED NORMALLY.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,242 hours in all; 601 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 1,119 as pilot in command; 188 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,743 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 28, 1989; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hilde Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from SAV, 2 miles away
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 N9583G 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.