# NTSB ATL85LA245: Cessna T188C, N2825J, Athens, AL, August 12, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 1985, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place: Athens, AL
- Coordinates: 34.780433, -86.95092 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7804&lon=-86.9509&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6852
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85LA245
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6852/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA245

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Fire, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A GRADUAL LOSS OF PWR FOLLOWED BY AN IN-FLT FIRE WHICH LEAD TO AN OFF ARPT FORCED LANDING. DURING THE FORCED LANDING IHE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2825J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2825J-1989-01-03), registration cancelled 1989-01-03, S/N T18803521T (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T188C
- Registry model: [Cessna T188C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t188c) (registry code 2073012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T18803521T
- Airframe hours: 2383
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-T 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Bobby Zirbel
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 4, 1985, 149 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 6,781 total, 1,012 in this make and model, 4,946 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850812040579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850812040579A), Aug 12, 1985: Cessna T188C, Athens, AL, Destroyed. Engine lost power during spray run. Dumped load. Clipped tree tops prior ground impact. An inflight fire was noted.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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