Cessna L-19E accident near Sunflower, Mississippi, March 24, 2022
On March 24, 2022 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1959 Cessna L-19E, registered N4583S, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Sunflower, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 2022 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sunflower, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna L-19E, built 1959 · all L-19Es on the register
- Registration
- N4583S · registry record · serial 24707
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot planned a 1-hour flight to verify airplane performance, systems, and navigation equipment in preparation for a cross-country flight the next day. For most of the accident flight, he operated the airplane with the fuel selector in the main tank position. While transitioning to the destination airport about 500 ft above ground level, the pilot switched the fuel selector to the auxiliary fuel tank. About 2 minutes later, the engine “missed much like if the mags [magnetos] were switched off then immediately back on.” He then turned on the boost pump and switched the fuel selector back to the main fuel tank. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power. The pilot’s attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot executed a forced landing to a harvested cornfield. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the rudder, vertical stabilizer, and both wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s wing fuel lines (after the wings were removed) and fuel tanks revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was functionally tested at various power settings with an exemplar fuel tank, and no anomalies were noted. Engine operation was only interrupted when the fuel selector valve was placed between the detent selections. Further examination of the airplane wings found that the left fuel tank (main) vent line was completely obstructed with an unspecified material. Given the available evidence, this investigation could not determine if the blocked fuel vent line or an improper fuel selector position caused the loss of engine power.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Inoperative
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,775 hours in all; 6 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 7, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,614 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from GLH, 21 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGLH 241653Z 10SM CLR 14/02 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP156 T01440022
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN22LA178.