- Date
- May 20, 1992, 15:05 local (20:05 UTC)
- Place
- Elba, AL
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5519SCessna 188
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 24, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920520015489A
- Case key
- 8604
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from objects (trees), and his inadequate visual lookout. A factor was the trees located in the practice area.
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 was practicing for an upcoming agricultural application certification, and was spraying water. A witness reported that on the pilot's fifth pass of a field, the airplane collided with a tree. The airplane then climbed about 300 feet, and 'nose dived' into the ground. An examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5519S
- Reported as
- Cessna 188
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1880019
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Elba Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Elba Aviation, Inc.
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 23, 1993
- Departed
- 14J · Elba, AL
- Destination
- 14J
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TOI, 28 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.