Cessna 195 accident near Kilmichael, Mississippi, November 25, 2004
On November 25, 2004 at about 9:01 pm local time, a Cessna 195, registered N195DD, was destroyed in an accident near Kilmichael, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's ostentatious display, flying at low altitude, resulting in collision with a static wire power line, in-flight loss of control, and collision with terrain. A factor in the accident was sun glare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 2004 · about 9:01 pm local time
- Place
- Kilmichael, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N195DD · no longer on the register · serial 16042
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Friends and family members of the pilot stated the pilot and his son had dropped off the pilot's father, daughter, and niece, and were returning to Winona-Montgomery County Airport, Mississippi. The home of the pilot's in-laws resides nearby the airport. Witnesses at the in-law's house stated they saw the airplane fly over the house in a north heading, turn around and fly toward the house at a low altitude. The airplane's left landing gear collided with the power lines that span from east to west across the pond behind the house. The airplane nosed over and impacted the ground at the water line of the pond. The airplane cartwheeled between several trees before coming to a stop upside down in the backyard of the home. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. Flight control continuity had been established from the cockpit controls to all flight control surfaces with the exception of the elevator tube assembly, which was observed, separated in an area of impact damage. The left main landing gear spring had an impact mark 1/2 inch wide on the leading edge with evidence of electrical arcing observed. The left main wheel assembly was separated from the left main landing gear spring. The 1453 weather conditions reported at Greenwood-Leflore Airport, located approximately 18 nautical miles west of the accident site, were calm winds, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 4 degrees C, dew point 3 degrees C, altimeter setting was 30.13 inHg. The U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Application Department observed the position of the sun at Winona, Mississippi, area at 1500 local time to be an altitude of about 18.7 degrees above the horizon and an azimuth of about 227.5 degrees. The accident airplane energy path was on an azimuth heading of 210 degree. The unmarked half inch diameter electrical wire that the accident airplane collided with spanned across the pond at an estimated height of 75 feet above the water line. The examinations of the engine and propeller, at certified repaired stations under FAA oversight, revealed no evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunction.
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: 212 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,633 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2004; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755-A2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9M4 Ackerman MS at 8:45 pm
- Destination: 5A6 Winona MS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from GWO, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.