- Date
- August 17, 1988, 02:50 local (06:50 UTC)
- Place
- Adel, GA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N65790Cessna 172
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report January 4, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880817033489A
- Case key
- 7620
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot had been briefed on the weather conditions along the intended route of flight. VFR flight was not recommended. The pilot elected to land at his alternate, and had reported visual contact. Local witnesses reported low ceilings and reduced visibility. The aircraft collided with a tv/radio tower guy wire. The tower fell on the transmitter building. The airplane crashed in an open field and burned. The tower was equipped with a flashing strobe light.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N65790
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17275889
- Airframe hours
- 1,634
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Air Valdosta, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Air Valdosta Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 2, 1988 · 80 hours before
- Departed
- Augusta, GA
- Destination
- VLD · Valdosta, GA
- Airport
- Cook County, runway 5, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 71 total · 29 in this make and model · 17 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 40° at 3 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- 700 ft broken
- Temperature
- 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- VLD, 35 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.