Cessna 172P accident near Jackson, Mississippi, November 26, 1983
On November 26, 1983 at about 7:40 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N64791, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, Mississippi (Thompson Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- November 26, 1983 · about 7:40 am local time
- Place
- Jackson, Mississippi · Thompson Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N64791 · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DITCHED IN A RESERVOIR AT NIGHT AFTER A POWER LOSS. THE PLT WAS DESCENDING TO LAND, IN PREPARATION FOR THE LANDING THE PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS ON THE SELECTOR VALVE TO WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS BOTH TANKS POSITION. SHORTLY AFTER THISTHE ENGINE QUIT. THE PLT CHECKED THE FUEL SELECTOR BUT DID NOT CHANGE IT. HE CHANGED THE MAGNETO FROM BOTH TO RIGHT AND BACK TO BOTH. WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART HE WAS FORCED TO DITCH SHORT OF THE ARPT. THE OCCUPANTS EXITED AND SWAM TO SHORE SAFELY. WHEN THE ACFT WAS SALVAGED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. NO FUEL WAS IN THE GASCOLATOR OR CARBURETOR. THE PLT STATED THAT THIS FUEL SELECTOR WAS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ACFT HE HAD FLOWN AND IN THE DARKNESS HE SELECTED AN IMPROPER POSITION. THE 'OFF' POSITION IS DIRECTLY OPPOSITE THE 'BOTH' POSITION. THERE IS NO GUARD OR PROTECTIVE DEVICE TO PREVENT MOVING THE SELECTOR TO OFF INADVERTENTLY.
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
- Flight time: 85 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,120 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKL Jackson TN at 5:00 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15L, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Observation at 5:00 am from JAN, 5 miles away
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.