Piper PA23 accident near Ocean Springs, Mississippi, June 23, 2023
On June 23, 2023 at about 12:34 pm local time, a 1959 Piper PA23, registered N4307P, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Ocean Springs, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during the initial climb due to fuel starvation for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2023 · about 12:34 pm local time
- Place
- Ocean Springs, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA23 160, built 1959 · all PA23s on the register
- Registration
- N4307P · registry record · serial 23-1808
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was planning on conducting a cross-country flight to have an annual inspection performed on the airplane. Before the departure, the pilot reported there was about 105 gallons of 100 low-lead fuel onboard. Shortly after the takeoff, the pilot reported the left engine sustained a total loss of engine power, without any prior indications. The pilot performed a forced landing and the airplane impacted an unoccupied grass athletic field on the property of a school. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. During the accident sequence, the left-wing main fuel cell (rubber bladder style) was breached and no fuel was observed in the cell. The left-wing auxiliary fuel cell (rubber bladder style), was cut open during the recovery to facilitate fuel removal and no recoverable fuel was found. Therefore, it is unknown how much fuel was in the left-wing fuel tanks. During the recovery of the airplane from the accident site, about 45 gallons of fuel was recovered from the right-wing fuel tanks. During the postaccident examination of the left engine, no fuel was observed in any of the fuel hoses forward of the firewall, the engine-driven fuel pump, or the carburetor. All visible damage on the left propeller was consistent with impact forces caused by impact into a soft surface, with the propeller rotating at low or no power. The investigation identified no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe, the left engine, or the left propeller that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available evidence, it is likely the left engine sustained a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation for undetermined reasons.
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
- Evacuation during post (impact)
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Engine out control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 928 hours in all; 433 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 919 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 30, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,101.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 2021; 9.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming Engines O-320-B3B (piston); 1,048 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming Engines O-320-B3B (piston); 1,138 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 3NR3 Brevard NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 am from KBIX, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBIX 231155Z AUTO 34005KT 10SM CLR 24/23 A2992 RMK AO2 SLPNO 70101 T02380229 10241 20230 52012
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.
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.