Piper PA-31-350 and Cessna 425 accident near Tupelo, Mississippi, November 10, 1988
On November 10, 1988 at about 9:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-31-350 (N637JC) and Cessna 425 (N6844S), were involved in the same accident near Tupelo, Mississippi (C.D. Lemons Muni airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 1988 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tupelo, Mississippi · C.D. Lemons Muni · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N637JC · no longer on the register · serial 31-7852057
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 425 · all 425s on the register
- Registration
- N6844S · no longer on the register · serial 425-0065
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-31-350 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA PLT WAS TAXIING HIS ACFT ON A MARKED TAXIWAY WHEN HE OBSERVED A PIPER PA-31-350 CHIEFTAIN ENTERING THE TAXIWAY AHEAD OF HIS ACFT. THE CESSNA PLT APPLIED THE BRAKES & STATED THE ACFT WAS STOPPED FOR 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE THE LT WING OF THE PIPER ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE RIGHT ENG & PROPELLER OF THE CESSNA. THE CHIEFTAIN CONTINUED FWD FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AFTER THE COLLISION. MAIN LANDING GEAR SKID MARKS ON THE CONCRETE TAXIWAY MEASURED APRX 26 FT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 425 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA PLT WAS TAXIING HIS ACFT ON A MARKED TAXIWAY WHEN HE OBSERVED A PIPER PA-31-350 (CHIEFTAIN) ENTERING THE TAXIWAY AHEAD OF HIS ACFT. THE CESSNA PLT APPLIED THE BRAKES & STATED THE ACFT WAS STOPPED FOR 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE THE LEFT WING OF THE PIPER ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE RIGHT ENG & PROPELLER OF THE CESSNA. CHIEFTAIN CONTINUED FWD FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AFTER THE COLLISION. MAIN LANDING GEAR SKID MARKS ON THE CONCRETE TAXIWAY MEASURED APRX 26 FT.
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 for the Piper PA-31-350 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,739 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 14,601 as pilot in command; 9,173 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,447 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 1988; 122 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,045 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Seneca 31682, INC.
The flight
- Destination: SUS St. Louis MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from TUP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 425 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,560 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 13,200 as pilot in command; 1,175 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,983 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 15, 1988; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,600 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6-112 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lucky Star Industries, INC.
The flight
- Destination: BHM Birmingham AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
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.