Bellanca 14-13 accident near Tunica, Mississippi, November 24, 1994
On November 24, 1994, a Bellanca 14-13, registered N74232, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tunica, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DELAY IN OBTAINING ATC ASSISTANCE AFTER BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO NAVIGATE USING THE VOR SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 1994
- Place
- Tunica, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-13 · all 14-13s on the register
- Registration
- N74232 · no longer on the register · serial 1345
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS FOR THE FLIGHT BECAUSE HE HAD FLOWN IT SEVERAL TIMES. WHILE NAVIGATING USING A GPS UNIT, THE BATTERIES IN THE UNIT FAILED ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE ARRIVAL. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT VISUALLY BUT STATED THAT HE DELAYED OBTAINING ATC ASSISTANCE AND DID NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THE ON-BOARD VOR TO ESTABLISH HIS POSITION. THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL FOLLOWING THE FORCED LANDING IN A PARKING LOT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,900 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,252 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1993; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 6A4150B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MOR Morristown TN at 7:30 pm
- Destination: OLV Olive Branch MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.