Casualties unknown

Agricultural Airplane Noses Over After Runway Excursion During Landing Roll (N731JY)

Seminole, TX, US

On August 30, 1999, a Cessna A188B (registration N731JY) operated by Graham Addison was involved in an aviation accident near Seminole, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot seat disengaging from the seat track resulting from inadequate AD compliance during the last annual inspection. A factor was the soft terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

An agricultural airplane departed the runway during landing roll, nosing over. The pilot reported seat dislodgement; examination revealed non-compliance with an airworthiness directive.

Accident

An agricultural airplane experienced a runway excursion during the landing roll. The aircraft departed the right side of the runway, entered soft terrain, and subsequently nosed over to an inverted position.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported that during the landing roll, his seat became dislodged from the seat track. He further stated that because his left leg is shorter than his right leg, when the seat slid all the way back, his left foot lost contact with the rudder pedal.

Examination

An FAA inspector examined the seat and found that the forward left seat roller housing assembly had spread open to nearly the width of the seat rail. This condition allowed the seat to dislodge from its locked position.

Maintenance Records

According to the inspector, the airplane's maintenance records indicated compliance with Airworthiness Directive (AD) 87-20-03 R2 at the last annual inspection. AD 87-20-03 R2 is intended to ensure proper engagement of the seat locking mechanism and to prevent inadvertent seat slippage. However, the inspector determined that the AD had not been properly accomplished, as the seat did not meet the locking pin engagement requirements specified in the AD. The time since the last annual inspection was 249.4 hours.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X19534. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.