Oktibbeha Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mayhew, Mississippi 39753
Tuesady, December 12, 1995 16:25 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot had manufactured a new propeller for his airplane. Before taking off on the first flight after certification, he performed taxi and runup tests on the engine and airplane. After takeoff, the airplane did not climb very fast and reached an altitude of only about 50 feet. After realizing that the airplane was not performing as expected, he attempted to stay over a clear field. To do this, he had to make a shallow turn, and the airplane started to descend. The airplane then struck trees at approximately 3,500 feet from the departure end of the runway. A postaccident investigation revealed no evidence of mechanical failure of the engine. When questioned, the pilot said that he expected the new propeller to produce 110 horsepower at 4500 rpm or 65 horsepower at 3000 rpm. However, during takeoff, the rpm only reached about 2600 rpm.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper planning/decision, and failure to verify the airplane's performance data. The airplane's lack of climb capability with the newly manufactured propeller was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/12/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1625
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MAYHEW
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39753
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport OKTIBBEHA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID M51
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 135
Airport Elevation 250
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2155 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CBM
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1788
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 14 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1054
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:54PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N823GM
NTSB Number MIA96LA041
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MCKIBBEN
Aircraft Model GN-1 AIRCAMPER
Aircraft Series Identifier GN-1 AIRCA
Aircraft Serial Number 2
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GERALD MCKIBBEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1982 HICKORY DR
Aircraft Owner City STARKVILLE
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39759
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code M51
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1625
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --