Cessna A188B accident near Yazoo City, Mississippi, September 14, 1991
On September 14, 1991 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N8999G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yazoo City, Mississippi (Big Twist Strip 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
SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR DURING TAKE OFF DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE GEAR TO THE AIRFRAME. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1991 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Yazoo City, Mississippi · Big Twist Strip · 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
- N8999G · registry record · serial 18801344
- 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 REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF THE RT WING DROPPED. HE CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF BUT THE ACFT TRAVELLED THROUGH TWO DITCHES BEFORE COMING TO REST. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT TWO OF THREE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE RT MAIN LANDING GEAR TO THE AIRFRAME WERE NOT RECOVERED. THE BOLT THAT WAS RECOVERED WAS METALLURGICALLY EXAMINED WHICH REVEALED THAT IT FAILED DUE TO OVERLOAD. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF OVER TORQUE.
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: 31,000 hours in all; 1,125 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 1991; 241 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°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.