Piper PA-28-140 accident near Ocean Springs, Mississippi, March 21, 2000
On March 21, 2000 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N6684J, was destroyed in an accident near Ocean Springs, Mississippi (Ocean Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft while making a forced landing following loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, resulting in the aircraft impacting hard on the runway, bouncing into the air, and colliding with powerlines off the side of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2000 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Ocean Springs, Mississippi · Ocean Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6684J · no longer on the register · serial 28-24824
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During climb shortly after takeoff the engine lost power and then regained full power. The pilot continued the takeoff and a short time later the engine again lost power and then regained power to a point less than 2,000 rpm. The pilot made a turn back to the airport and the pilot stated that as he lined up with the runway, the aircraft stalled and descended, impacting on the runway. The aircraft bounced up and traveled off the right side of the runway where it collided with power lines and a pole. The aircraft came to rest and a post crash fire erupted and consumed most of the aircraft. Post crash teardown examination of the engine showed no evidence of abnormalities. The engine and accessories had been damaged by the post crash fire.
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
- Flight time: 120 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,270 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 7, 2000; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 5R2 at 10:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from GPT, 15 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.