Cessna T188C accident near Cross City, Florida, May 24, 1992
On May 24, 1992 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N4547J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cross City, Florida. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADEQUATE INSPECTION FOR CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM AFTER MODIFICATION RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP DUE TO CONTAMINATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER MODIFICATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN THE HOPPER FUEL TANK NOT HAVING A SECOND SOURCE OF FUEL PUMPING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1992 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cross City, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N4547J · no longer on the register · serial T18803749T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FLIGHT EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER SWITCHING TO THE CHEMICAL HOPPER WHICH HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO A FUEL TANK FOR THE FERRY FLIGHT. THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A WOODED AREA. POST CRASH OPERATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN ON THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP. AFTER THE PUMP WAS CHANGED THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN BLACK RUBBER PARTICLE CONTAMINATION UNDER THE BYPASS VALVE AND TO BE WORN WHICH PREVENTED PRESSURE BUILD UP. THE HOPPER TANK LINE ENTERED THE AIRFRAME FUEL SYSTEM AFTER THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP AND THE ONLY SOURCE OF HOPPER TANK FUEL PRESSURE WAS THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP.
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: 11,500 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 11,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,224 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1992; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-T (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CTY at 2:30 pm
- Destination: MAI Marianna FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from GNV, 50 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.