Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Iuka, Mississippi, May 11, 1982
On May 11, 1982 at about 10:06 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N444ME, was destroyed in an accident near Iuka, Mississippi (Iuka airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1982 · about 10:06 pm local time
- Place
- Iuka, Mississippi · Iuka
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N444ME · no longer on the register · serial 52R-7680220
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED DURING A PASS ACROSS THE AIRPORT. A WITNESS WAS PARKED, FACING EAST, IN THE RUNUP AREA FOR RUNWAY 18. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF ABOUT 6 MINUTES EARLIER, MADE A TRAFFIC PATTERN, AND CRASHED BEHIND AND TO HIS RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING AND TRAVELED ABOUT 300 FT AFTER IMPACT. THE LEFT WING TIP LENS WAS FOUND AT THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. THE INITIAL IMPACT MARK WAS VERY NARROW. IT GRADUALLY WIDENED FROM 4 INCHES TO 18 INCHES OVER THE FIRST 40 FT WHERE THE NOSE OF THE PLANE HIT A 4 FT BANK.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 763 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 113 in the last 90 days; 674 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,005 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 240 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISM Iuka MS at 5:00 pm
- Destination: ISM Iuka MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.