Cessna 188 accident near Garfield, Georgia, June 13, 1995
On June 13, 1995 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 188, registered N53340, was destroyed in an accident near Garfield, 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 FLYING SPEED DURING A CLIMBOUT FROM A SWATH RUN WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND THE SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1995 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Garfield, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188 · all 188s on the register
- Registration
- N53340 · registry record · serial 188-01776T
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SERIES OF PRACTICE SWATH RUNS WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING CLIMBOUT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE STALLED DURING THE CLIMB, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ON THE DEPARTURE END OF THE SWATH RUN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE DISCLOSED THAT THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE SUSTAINED TREE AND GROUND IMPACT DAMAGE ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WING ASSEMBLY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 430 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 370 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,620 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:30 pm from SAV, 50 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.