Aerospatiale TB-20 accident near Meridian, Mississippi, December 6, 1995
On December 6, 1995 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Aerospatiale TB-20, registered N33AS, was destroyed in an accident near Meridian, Mississippi. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (VSO) while maneuvering during an ILS approach in instrument flight conditions. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's failure to follow the published approach procedure, his failure to maintain a proper altitude, and the low ceiling.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 1995 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Meridian, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale TB-20
- Registration
- N33AS · registry record · serial 33
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had been cleared for the ILS RWY 1 approach in instrument flight conditions. A short time later, the pilot contacted the control tower, provided his altitude, and asked for a heading. The tower controller provided the pilot with the published inbound heading for the approach which the pilot acknowledged. There were no other known recorded communications with the pilot. A witness observed the airplane in instrument flight conditions at about 100 feet with the landing gear down. The airplane made a steep turn to the north and continued northbound until it disappeared from view. The airplane wreckage was located the next day 4 miles south of the airport and west of the outer marker. The airplane had collided with trees in a 90-degree left bank, 45-degree nose-down attitude. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 452 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 277 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,103 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 1995; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4 D5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I52 Indianapolis IN at 2:06 pm
- Destination: MEI MS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from MEI, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.