Cessna T188C accident near Rogersville, Alabama, October 5, 1993
On October 5, 1993 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N42402, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rogersville, Alabama. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PREPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DURING TAKE OFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 1993 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rogersville, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N42402 · no longer on the register · serial T18803700T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKE OFF, THE ENGINE QUIT AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A WOODED TERRAIN. THE WRECKAGE AND ACCIDENT SITE WERE EXAMINED WHICH REVEALED THAT RESIDUAL FUEL REMAINED IN THE FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL INJECTOR. LESS THAN ONE OUNCE OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE GASCOLATOR, AND THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE 'ON' POSITION. THE LEFT WING HAD SEPARATED FROM THE FUESELAGE WHICH PULLED THE FUEL LINE FROM THE TANK; HOWEVER, NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE WAS FOUND ON THE GROUND.
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: 4,731 hours in all; 2,400 in this make and model; 196 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 4,731 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from MSL, 20 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.
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.