Cessna 188 accident near Red Springs, North Carolina, June 13, 1995
On June 13, 1995 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 188, registered N4916Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Red Springs, North Carolina. 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
INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE THAT OVERLOOKED CORROSION OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH RESULTED IN AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK, AN IN FLIGHT FIRE, AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
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 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Red Springs, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188 · all 188s on the register
- Registration
- N4916Q · no longer on the register · serial 18802651T
- 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 PILOT REPORTED THAT HE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, SHORTLY BEFORE HE LOST COMPLETE ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT SELECTED A NEARBY FIELD, AND ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING. WHILE MANEUVERING FOR THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A HOLE IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSED BY CORROSION. THERE WERE INDICATIONS OF FIRE ON THE AIRCRAFT AIR FILTER COVER, THAT HAD BEEN THE RESULT OF EXHAUST GASES BLOWING DIRECTLY ON IT. AN ENGINE RUN WAS PERFORMED AFTER THE AIR FILTER WAS REMOVED AND THE ENGINE RAN WELL AT ALL RPMS.
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: 4,100 hours in all; 3,783 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 3,991 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,448 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 23, 1995; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:46 pm from FAY, 12 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.