Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

South Ponotoc, Mississippi 38864
Sunday, April 27, 2003 16:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot, was performing low approaches into a private airstrip with no intention of landing. On the third approach a gust of wind "blew" the airplane to the right towards the trees. The pilot said that before he could recover, the airplane "hit" the ground. An examination of the wreckage after the accident did not reveal any discrepancies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain altitude and aircraft control during a low pass over a grass runway, which resulted in the airplane impacting the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City South Ponotoc
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38864
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 341400N
Event Location Longitude 0885900W
Event Location Airport Private
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1500 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID KTUP
Elevation of weather observation facility 346
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 33
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) 1550
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14972
NTSB Notification Source FAA SE Reg Com Ctr
NTSB Notification Date Apr 29 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 2 2004 8:06AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Jackson FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2371U
NTSB Number MIA03LA099
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172D
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17249971
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 3683.82
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name William/Shelia David Austin
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14839 Highway 9 S
Aircraft Owner City Randolph
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38864
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 22M
Departure City Pontotoc County
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Dec 16 2003 3:07PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --