Amateur-built CAVALIER accident near Dekalb, Mississippi, April 11, 1993
On April 11, 1993 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CAVALIER, registered N191DJ, was destroyed in an accident near Dekalb, Mississippi (None airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND IN THE TYPE OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1993 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dekalb, Mississippi · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CAVALIER
- Registration
- N191DJ · registry record · serial SA105 5-6848
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE PLT INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE WHICH IMPACTED THE GROUND NOSE AND LEFT WING LOW. THE AIRPLANE THEN CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S WIFE WHO WAS A WITNESS, THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TAKEOFF ATTEMPT FROM THE GRASS AIRSTRIP. EXAMINATION OF THE COCKPIT REVEALED THAT THE LANDING GEAR SELECTOR HANDLE WAS IN THE DOWN POSITION. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. IN THE OPINION OF A PILOT WHO HAD PERFORMED ONE TAKEOFF IN THIS AIRPLANE FROM THIS AIRSTRIP, THE CLIMB PERFORMANCE WAS MARGINAL DUE TO THE LARGE PROPELLER BLADE ANGLE OF THE HOMEMADE PROPELLER. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT HE WOULD EXPECT WITH A CRUISE PROPELLER INSTALLED. HE ADVISED THE PILOT THAT OPERATIONS WERE MARGINAL FROM THE ACCIDENT AIRSTRIP.
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: 97 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 54 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 27, 1992; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,748 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-290G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 1,200 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from MEI, 30 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.