Amateur-built JC-24 accident near Wiggins, Mississippi, August 16, 1983
On August 16, 1983 at about 11:55 pm local time, a amateur-built JC-24 (ultralight), registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Wiggins, Mississippi (Dean Griffin airport). It was a personal flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). 1 person was 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
- August 16, 1983 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Wiggins, Mississippi · Dean Griffin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built JC-24
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 1308
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, THE NON-RATED PLT HAD NO PREVIOUS FLT EXPERIENCE, BUT WAS BRIEFED ON THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE'S OPERATION, CONTROL RESPONSE & OTHER ASPECTS, AS WELL AS THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, DIRECTION, ETC. DURING TAKEOFF, THE ULTRALIGHT ENTEREDA DIVE AFTER CLIMBING 30 TO 40 FT, BUT THE PLT LEVELED OFF JUST ABOVE THE RWY & CONTINUED CLIMBING IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO APRX 300 FT. A WITNESS STATED THAT ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ENTERED A STEEP NOSEDOWN DIVE & CRASHED. HE OBSERVED NO WING ROCKING, NO TURN & NO ROLLING OR YAWING. DURING AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE, NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION/FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SHOULDER HARNESS, THE SEAT BACK WAS NOT RIGID, THE ONLY FOOT/LEG SUPPORT WAS A TUBE EXTENDING EITHER SIDE OF THE NOSEWHEEL WITH NO HEEL CUP. THE SINGLE FLT CONTROL OPERATED THE RUDDER & ELEVATOR (NO AILERONS WERE INSTALLED). FORE & AFT MOVEMENT OF THE CONTROL WOULD PROVIDE NOSE DOWN & NOSE UP RESPONSE OF THE ELEVATOR. LEFT & RIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE CONTROL WOULD PROVIDE LEFT & RIGHT RUDDER.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 60 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Chotia 460-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MS06 Wiggins MS at 11:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.