Cessna 188 accident near Starkville, Mississippi, October 8, 2011
On October 8, 2011 at about 8:55 pm local time, a Cessna 188, registered N5424E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Starkville, Mississippi (Starkville Bryan Field). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2011 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Starkville, Mississippi · Starkville Bryan Field · 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
- N5424E · no longer on the register · serial 651
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the operator, the pilot performed a normal landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the rollout, the airplane began to veer to the left, and the pilot attempted unsuccessfully to arrest the turn by applying right rudder and right brake. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and struck a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,788 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 4,432 as pilot in command; 122 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 6, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,056 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mississippi State University
The flight
- Departed from: STF Starkville MS at 8:45 pm
- Destination: STF Starkville MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,120 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from STF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.