Cessna 182P accident near Charleston, Mississippi, February 20, 2024
On February 20, 2024 at about 7:12 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna 182P, registered N14YY, was destroyed in an accident during approach near Charleston, Mississippi (Selfs Airport). It was a positioning 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 pilot’s failure to attain/maintain aircraft control during an approach for landing that resulted in an impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2024 · about 7:12 pm local time
- Place
- Charleston, Mississippi · Selfs Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P, built 1972 · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N14YY · registry record · serial 18261390
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was positioning the airplane for the new owner when it began to yaw left. The pilot added rudder trim to counteract the left yawing tendency of the airplane. During the flight, the pilot stated he twice switched the fuel selector from BOTH to LEFT and on both occasions fuel starvation ensued. The pilot continued the flight with the fuel selector on BOTH and diverted to an airport to avoid running out of fuel. The pilot performed two go-arounds due to the airplane’s left yawing tendency. He reported that on the third landing attempt, he knew he needed to land the airplane as he was expecting a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. He recalled fighting the airplane during the landing and had no memory of what occurred after that. A witness video showed the airplane approach and attempt two landings at high speed with the nose yawed and with the flaps retracted before it impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the position of the rudder trim could not be determined due to postimpact damage. The fuel system venting was normal except for the left fuel cap, which did not allow proper venting. The restricted venting of the left fuel tank would have reduced fuel flow from the left fuel tank, which was evident by the pilot’s description of fuel starvation while the fuel selection was positioned to the left fuel tank. The fuel imbalance would have induced a left rolling tendency due to greater fuel weight in the left fuel tank. The yawed attitude of the airplane during the approaches was likely due to excessive rudder trim. Even though there was a fuel imbalance, the airplane still would have been controllable. There were no other mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal aircraft operation.
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 control in flight during approach defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 431 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 359 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 10, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,431.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 2023
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 1,432 hours total
- Operator: Norwoods Air, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CXO Conroe TX at 6:24 pm
- Destination: PMU Batesville MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 3,346 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 pm from CKM, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident Site of N14YY
Photograph 2 – Accident Site of N14YY
Photograph 3 – Cockpit Rudder Trim Position
Photograph 3 – Rudder Trim IndicatorThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on March 19, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | ADS-B Plot | map file | Download |
| 3 | ADS-B Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 4 | Video of Accident Provided by Airport Manager | MOV file | Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record A�� Examination | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Pilot Logbook | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Airframe Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Engine Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.