Cessna 172N accident near Starkville, Mississippi, May 3, 1986
On May 3, 1986 at about 3:50 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4838G, was destroyed in an accident near Starkville, Mississippi (George M Bryan airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1986 · about 3:50 am local time
- Place
- Starkville, Mississippi · George M Bryan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4838G · no longer on the register · serial 17273385
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES RPRTD THAT THE PLT HAD PURCHASED WINE COOLER BEVERAGES BEFORE GOING TO THE ARPT. HE STATED THAT HE DRANK FROM ONE OF THE BOTTLES BEFORE THE FLT. THE PLT TOOK OFF AT ABOUT 2230 CDT. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE FLEW BACK OVER THE ARPT & MADE A LOW PASS OVER A BUILDING (PLT LOUNGE). HE INITIATED A 2ND PASS TOWARD THE PLT LOUNGE (DURING DARKNESS), BUT THE ACFT STRUCK TREES, CRASHED TO THE GROUND & BURNED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE RPRTD. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD (TAKEN 1 HR & 20 MIN AFTER THE ACDNT) SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 25 MG% (0.025%) & A TRACE OF BUTALBITAL. FIORINAL TABLETS (BUTALBITAL) HAD BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR MEDICATION.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 19 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,210 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 28, 1986; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 5,050 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 am from CBN, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.