Cessna 172P accident near Wiggins, Mississippi, October 12, 1997
On October 12, 1997 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N945SM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wiggins, Mississippi (Dean Griffin Memorial airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons resulting in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain and the aircraft nosing over during landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 1997 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Wiggins, Mississippi · Dean Griffin Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N945SM · registry record · serial 17274742
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While climbing through 300 feet after takeoff the engine quit. While making a forced landing in a field the aircraft nosed over. Post crash examination showed the aircraft contained uncontaminated fuel and all fuel lines were unobstructed. The engine was started and operated with no evidence of failure or malfunction. Disassembly of the carburetor after engine run showed no evidence of failure or malfunction. The aircraft was not operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing at rated power.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,625 hours in all; 485 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 3,505 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,263 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 10, 1997; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MS06 at 5:04 pm
- Runway 17, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:47 pm from GPT, 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.