Cessna 172G accident near Itta Bena, Mississippi, October 28, 1999
On October 28, 1999 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N1171F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Itta Bena, Mississippi (Murphy Flying Service airport). 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons resulting in a forced landing that was short of the intended touchdown point, and the subsequent impact with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1999 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Itta Bena, Mississippi · Murphy Flying Service · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N1171F · registry record · serial 17254766
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At an altitude of 6,500 feet the pilot stated that the engine began to run rough. He noticed that the rpm had decreased from 2400 to 2100 and applied carburetor heat. He executed a 180 degree turn and established a glide at 89 mph and determined the best landing site was a strip 5 to 6 miles south from point of the engine problem. He said he 'applied flaps and miss judged landing. Landing was in field 75-100 feet west of airstrip with the rows.' The airplane nosed into dirt and came to rest nose low. The terrain was level in the area with the exception of rows. The field rows were at 10-15 degree angle to the airstrip. Examination of the engine revealed, the engine appeared to have mechanical continuity, fuel, spark and compression. No apparent reason for the power loss was determined.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,228 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 111 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,128 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 1999; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 19M Lexington MS at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 3M0 Lakeview AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 2,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from GWO, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.