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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2026 · about 7:00 pm local time · cases in 2026
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8288G on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna A188 251 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Accidents and incidents in Georgia 2,138 since 1982 · 361 in the last ten years
- Georgia 8,807 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA26LA216.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.