Beech BE-A23-19 accident near Picayune, Mississippi, September 1, 1992
On September 1, 1992 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Beech BE-A23-19, registered N2377W, was destroyed in an accident near Picayune, 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO PLACE THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE FULLEST TANK, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1992 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Picayune, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-A23-19
- Registration
- N2377W · no longer on the register · serial MB-14
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A 2 HOUR FLIGHT WITH ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF FUEL IN EACH FUEL TANK. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL 2 DAYS LATER, BURNED IN A WOODED AREA. THE FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR 2 HOURS WOULD BE ABOUT 19 GALLONS. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND ON THE LEFT TANK AND THE LEFT WING EXHIBITED LESS FIRE DAMAGE THAN THE RIGHT WING. NO EVIDENCE OF POWERPLANT OR AIRFRAME PREEXISTING FAILURES WERE FOUND.
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: 75 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,085 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1992; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,255 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PTN Patterson LA at 8:10 pm
- Destination: PCU Picayune MS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MCB, 30 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.