Quicksilver MXII accident near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, February 25, 2021
On February 25, 2021 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Quicksilver MXII, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Hattiesburg, Mississippi (Pvt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the trees during the subsequent forced landing resulting in an impact with trees and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 2021 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi · Pvt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quicksilver MXII, amateur-built
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial Unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot reported that while on final approach to land in his unregistered two-seat light sport airplane, when he retarded the throttle, the airplane’s engine experienced a complete loss of power. The pilot attempted to force land the airplane in a grass field, but the right wing struck a tree branch and the airplane subsequently impacted terrain coming to rest on its nose. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the airplane. The fuel tank and rudder were not present with the wreckage and there were no airplane identification markings. Flight control continuity was established but an engine examination was not conducted. The inspector requested the pilot produce the operating handbook, operating limitations, and maintenance records for the aircraft, which he could not. The National Transportation Safety Board attempted to have the engine examined further but the pilot would not allow it. The pilot reported there was adequate automotive fuel onboard when the engine failed. He examined the fuel lines, the fuel filter, and the carburetor, and found no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he did not feel carburetor ice was involved, but that the engine failure was a fuel issue. However, the pilot could not produce any evidence to confirm that.
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
What happened, in order
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Placards and markings › (general) › Not installed/available
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,500 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 39.1 in the last 90 days; 20.5 in the last 30 days; 9,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 25, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 720 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax Aircraft Engines 503 (piston); 550 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Hattiesburg MS at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway Unkn, 1,200 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KHBG, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHBG 252153Z AUTO 02004KT 10SM FEW037 BKN070 23/15 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP199 T02330150
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.