Cessna A188B accident near Harrisonburg, Louisiana, September 6, 2001
On September 6, 2001 at about 12:10 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N2162J, was destroyed in an accident near Harrisonburg, Louisiana (Robbins Flying Service airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of control during approach for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2001 · about 12:10 pm local time
- Place
- Harrisonburg, Louisiana · Robbins Flying Service · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2162J · registry record · serial 18803399T
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The agricultural airplane was making an approach to land at a private airstrip when according to the pilot, the control stick locking device (gust lock) fell into the lock position, jaming the control stick. The airplane was "very" low, its left wing struck the ground, and the airplane cart wheeled separating both wings. No structural or mechanical anomalies were observed during an examination of the airplane. According to the aircraft manufacturer, to engage the gust lock, the assembly is rotated by hand from under the instrument panel to a point above the aircraft control stick. The barrel portion of the lock is then lowered onto the control stick. During the examination of the airplane, the barrel portion of contact with the control lock could not be located and no evidence of contact with the control lock barrel was noted on the control stick
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: 4,614 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,769 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 2001; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: F88 Jonesboro LA at 12:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Harrisonburg LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.