Cessna T-188C accident near Miami, Florida, April 5, 1988
On April 5, 1988 at about 6:13 pm local time, a Cessna T-188C, registered N2185J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami, Florida (Tamiami airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- April 5, 1988 · about 6:13 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · Tamiami · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T-188C · all T-188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2185J · registry record · serial T18803422T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAXIING FROM LANDING AFTER A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT, THE RT MAIN WHEEL ASSY SEPARATED FROM THE RT LANDING GEAR STRUT. THE ACFT THEN WENT OFF THE TAXIWAY & CAME TO REST IN THE GRASS. EXAMINATION OF THE RT LANDING GEAR REVEALED THAT THE SPRING STRUT FAILED AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE AT THE ATTACH POINT FOR THE AXLE. THE PILOT/MECHANIC WAS NOT INJURED.
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: 5,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 28, 1988; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ferro Aviation Maintenance
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27R, 5,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:46 pm from TMB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 MIA88LA141.