Amateur-built GN-1 AIRCAMPER accident near Mayhew, Mississippi, December 12, 1995
On December 12, 1995 at about 10:25 pm local time, a amateur-built GN-1 AIRCAMPER, registered N823GM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mayhew, Mississippi (Oktibbeha airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 improper planning/decision, and failure to verify the airplane's performance data. The airplane's lack of climb capability with the newly manufactured propeller was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 12, 1995 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Mayhew, Mississippi · Oktibbeha
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GN-1 AIRCAMPER GN-1 AIRCA
- Registration
- N823GM · no longer on the register · serial 2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had manufactured a new propeller for his airplane. Before taking off on the first flight after certification, he performed taxi and runup tests on the engine and airplane. After takeoff, the airplane did not climb very fast and reached an altitude of only about 50 feet. After realizing that the airplane was not performing as expected, he attempted to stay over a clear field. To do this, he had to make a shallow turn, and the airplane started to descend. The airplane then struck trees at approximately 3,500 feet from the departure end of the runway. A postaccident investigation revealed no evidence of mechanical failure of the engine. When questioned, the pilot said that he expected the new propeller to produce 110 horsepower at 4500 rpm or 65 horsepower at 3000 rpm. However, during takeoff, the rpm only reached about 2600 rpm.
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: 412 hours in all; 367 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Corvair (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M51 at 10:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 am from CBM, 15 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.