Cessna 188B accident near Raeford, North Carolina, August 19, 1995
On August 19, 1995 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Cessna 188B, registered N731VX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Raeford, North Carolina (Private airport). 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
the loss of the abutment seal which resulted in the fatigue failure of the cylinder head.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1995 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Raeford, North Carolina · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188B · all 188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N731VX · registry record · serial 18803200T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the ground roll of the second takeoff, the engine lost power, and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane rolled off the departure end of the sod runway and collided with trees. Examination of the engine assembly disclosed that the #1 cylinder head had separated. The fracture examination revealed a fatigue failure of the top thread of the cylinder head. According to the engine manufacturer, this fatigue failure mode has been seen in previous cylinder failures associated with the loss of cylinder head and barrel abutment seal.
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: 3,120 hours in all; 2,879 in this make and model; 122 in the last 90 days; 95 in the last 30 days; 3,032 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,916 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 1995; 123 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 1,900 ft by 250 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:47 pm from FAY, 25 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.