Cessna 172M accident near Picayune, Mississippi, September 19, 1992
On September 19, 1992 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9578H, was destroyed in an accident near Picayune, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO) WHILE CONDUCTING SLOW FLIGHT AT A LOW ALTITUDE. THIS RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL (STALL) AND SUBSEQUENT IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 1992 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Picayune, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9578H · no longer on the register · serial 172-66241
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS MANEUVERING THE AIRPLANE AT A LOW ALTITUDE LOOKING FOR DEER HUNTING SITES WITH AN UNAUTHORIZED PASSENGER. THE PILOT DESCENDED TO 500 FEET AGL AND EXTENDED FLAPS TO 20 DEGREES AND BEGAN SLOW FLIGHT AT ABOUT 45 KNOTS OF AIRSPEED. THE PILOT DESCENDED DOWN TO 300 FEET AGL AND CONTINUED THE SLOW FLIGHT. THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TREES.
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: student
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command; 35 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,341 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1992; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phillips Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: MSO3 Poplarville MS at 9:45 pm
- Destination: MSO3
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from GPT, 31 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.