Cessna A188B accident near Doerun, Georgia, May 23, 2026
On May 23, 2026 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna A188B, registered N8288G, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Doerun, Georgia. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2026 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Doerun, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B, built 1973 · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8288G · registry record · serial 18801287
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 23, 2026, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N8288G, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Doerun, Georgia. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. According to the pilot, during his fourth flight of the day the airplane sustained a total loss of engine power while en route to apply fertilizer to a corn field. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane struck trees before it came to rest upright, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
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 engine power (total) during takeoff defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute (climb to cruise)
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,045 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2026
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Doerun GA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from ABY, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KABY 231853Z 22010G18KT 10SM SCT040 31/21 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP165 T03060211 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA216.