Just Aircraft Highlander accident near Clarksdale, Mississippi, September 11, 2024
On September 11, 2024 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2017 Just Aircraft Highlander, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N91ZS, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Clarksdale, Mississippi (Fletcher Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2024 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Clarksdale, Mississippi · Fletcher Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Just Aircraft Highlander NO SERIES, built 2017, amateur-built
- Registration
- N91ZS · registry record · serial JA391-07-14
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that there was a large weather system in the area which resulted in gusting wind conditions. During takeoff roll in the tailwheel airplane, the tail lifted off the runway and the airplane accelerated. Before the airplane reached takeoff speed, the airplane yawed 30° left due to a gust of wind. The pilot stated that he remained in control of the airplane and continued the takeoff as he climbed to 6 to 8 ft above the ground. The wind gust ceased, and the airplane descended into a cotton field where it sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and right wing. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident the airplane was taking off on runway 18 with winds 090o at 15 kts with gusts to 20 kts.
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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,734 hours in all; 706 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3,355 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 3, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 786.3 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 2, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 785 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MKO Muskogee OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,404 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 90°F (32°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KCKM
Weather report (METAR): KCKM 112055Z AUTO 08011KT 10SM 32/32 A2990 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 CEN24LA352.