Cessna A188B accident near Vicksburg, Mississippi, September 21, 1990
On September 21, 1990 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N86405, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vicksburg, Mississippi (Simmons Flying Service airport). 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO AVOID A MUD HOLE ON THE RUNWAY DURING THE GROUND ROLL TO TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1990 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vicksburg, Mississippi · Simmons Flying Service · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N86405 · no longer on the register · serial 18802012T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE GROUND ROLL TO TAKEOFF, AFTER RAISING THE TAIL, THE RT SIDE OF THE ACFT BEGAN TO SINK. THE MAIN GEAR THEN BROKE OUT FROM UNDER THE ACFT CAUSING IT TO VEER OFF THE LT SIDE OF THE RWY. ACCORDING TO AN FAA INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE AIRSTRIP, A MUD HOLE WAS LOCATED ON THE RWY AT THE LOCATION WHERE THE TAIL WHEEL WOULD BE LIFTED OFF. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE PLT GOT TOO CLOSE TO THE SOFT SPOT & THE RT MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACH BOLT BROKE AFTER THE GEAR TRAVELLED INTO THE MUD HOLE. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED LANDING GEAR ATTACH BOLT REVEALED THAT IT FAILED DUE TO OVERLOAD.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command; 4,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:50 pm from JAN, 51 miles away
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.