Cessna A188B accident near Statesboro, Georgia, October 15, 1998
On October 15, 1998 at about 6:59 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N4925Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Statesboro, Georgia (Statesboro Municipal airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to attempt a flight with an unairworthy condition (leaky brake) and improper use of brakes on landing rollout. This resulted in a loss of brake fluid, directional control, ground loop, and on ground collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1998 · about 6:59 pm local time
- Place
- Statesboro, Georgia · Statesboro Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4925Q · registry record · serial 18802660T
- 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 pilot departed with a known history of brake fluid problems with the left brake cylinder. On landing rollout the airplane started to veer to the right. The pilot applied brakes and rudder. The rudder went to the floor. The pilot experienced a loss of directional control. The left main tire blew out, and the airplane ground looped to the right. The left wing, strut, and tail section collided with the ground. Examination of the runway revealed tire skid marks. Examination of the left brake cylinder revealed signs of previous leakage, and the brake cylinder was empty.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,040 hours in all; 7,040 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 17,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 6:00 pm
- Destination: TBR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,381 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from SVN, 40 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.