Beech A24R accident near Philadelphia, Mississippi, February 13, 1999
On February 13, 1999 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Beech A24R, registered N24624, was substantially damaged in an accident near Philadelphia, Mississippi (Philadelphia Municipal airport). 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 failure of the pilot to ensure the aircraft tie down ropes were free from the aircraft prior to taxiing. This resulted in the aircraft turning uncontrolled when taxi was initiated due to a partially tied left wing, the pilot loosing control of the aircraft, and the aircraft colliding with a ditch and a tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 1999 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Philadelphia, Mississippi · Philadelphia Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A24R · all A24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N24624 · no longer on the register · serial MC-137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he had trouble getting the knotted tie down rope through the left wing tie down fitting when he parked the aircraft the night before the accident. On the morning of the accident he did not recall struggling to get the rope free from the fitting. As he started to taxi the aircraft jerked to the left and he inadvertently advanced the throttle. The aircraft ran into a ditch and then collided with a tree.
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: 142 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 97 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MPE at 12:30 pm
- Destination: M83 West Point MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from MEI, 34 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.