Cessna A188A accident near Cochran, Georgia, July 16, 1994
On July 16, 1994 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna A188A, registered N5657J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cochran, 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND CLEARANCE FROM TREES DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER. FACTORS WERE THE TREES AT THE PERIMETER OF THE FIELD, AND THE GUSTING TAIL WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1994 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cochran, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188A · all A188As on the register
- Registration
- N5657J · no longer on the register · serial 18800607
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AG PILOT WAS ON HIS THIRD SPRAY PASS OF A SMALL FIELD. DURING THE CLIMBOUT, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AT THE PERIMETER OF THE FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A GUSTING TAIL WIND AT THE TIME, AND HE WAS CARRYING A 'SUBSTANTIAL' LOAD OF PESTICIDES. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT AIRSPEED WAS DIMINISHED DUE TO THE CONSECUTIVE PASSES OF THE SMALL FIELD. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
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: 1,185 hours in all; 670 in this make and model; 1,135 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,670 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 21, 1994; 182 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:58 pm from MCN, 27 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.