Cessna 172N accident near Ocilla, Georgia, March 15, 1990
On March 15, 1990 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N733BV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocilla, Georgia. It was an aerial observation 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 AIRCRAFT'S ENCOUNTER WITH LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR RESULTING IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE DESCENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 1990 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ocilla, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N733BV · no longer on the register · serial 17268176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ON AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT AT 500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLABLE DESCENT THAT HE THOUGHT WAS DUE TO WINDSHEAR. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED NO PRE-ACCIDENT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE CONDUCIVE FOR THE FORMATION OF LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,452 hours in all; 14,200 as pilot in command; 3,870 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FZG Fitzgerald GA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: DED Deland FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from AMG, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.