The skies over Mississippi have witnessed their share of tragic aviation incidents, with a significant number resulting in fatalities and serious injuries. As of January 2025, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has documented 1,713 accident reports involving aircraft within the state. These incidents have collectively claimed 534 lives, with hundreds more sustaining injuries ranging from severe to minor. While the majority of investigated events, approximately 1,400, concluded without any injuries, the impact of those that did has left indelible marks on the state's history.
Beyond civil aviation, the Department of Defense investigates incidents involving solely military personnel and vehicles. It is within this realm that the most catastrophic air crash in Mississippi's history occurred, underscoring the varied nature of aviation tragedies.
Examining Fatalities in Mississippi's Civil Aviation History
The NTSB's data for civil aircraft incidents in Mississippi reveals a stark distribution of fatalities:
- Eight fatalities: Occurred in two separate crashes.
- Six fatalities: Recorded in four distinct incidents.
- Five fatalities: Documented in three separate crashes.
- Four fatalities: Claimed in 14 different accidents.
- Three fatalities: Resulted from 27 incidents.
- Two fatalities: Recorded in 83 crashes.
- Single fatalities: Accounted for 176 separate incidents.
Notable Civil Plane Crashes with High Fatality Counts
Several civil aviation incidents in Mississippi stand out due to their significant loss of life. While the 1977 crash involving the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd is widely recognized, it does not represent the deadliest civil incident in the state.
Yazoo City, Mississippi - January 10, 1978
A Beech B-90 aircraft, en route from Cincinnati, Ohio, experienced an engine malfunction during its final approach to Yazoo City. The failure led to a complete loss of power and engine flameout, resulting in a crash that claimed the lives of five individuals: two crew members and three passengers. The NTSB's investigation pointed to potential causes including excessive wear, inadequate maintenance, and a critical failure in the engine's accessory drive shaft.
Brandon, Mississippi - November 12, 1974
A Cessna 210L suffered an airframe failure while traversing the skies from Clearwater, Florida, to Denver, Colorado. This catastrophic event resulted in the deaths of five people, including one crew member and four passengers. The NTSB report cited the pilot's decision to fly into a thunderstorm that proved more severe than forecasted, coupled with improper flight control operations, as contributing factors that exceeded the aircraft's designed stress limits.
Jackson, Mississippi - September 15, 1971
An Aero Commander 560-A experienced an engine malfunction shortly after departing Temple, Texas, on its way to Columbus, Georgia. The aircraft subsequently crashed into trees while attempting a landing at Allen C. Thompson Field in Jackson. The incident tragically resulted in five fatalities (one crew, four passengers) and one serious injury. The NTSB investigation concluded that fuel exhaustion and miscalculations in fuel consumption were primary causes, exacerbated by complete engine failure and the presence of high obstructions during the emergency landing attempt.
Philadelphia, Mississippi - February 12, 1970
A Cessna 310P, which had departed from Jonesville, Louisiana, crashed near Philadelphia, Mississippi, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, including one crew member and five passengers. The NTSB report indicated that the pilot was incapacitated, with his medical certification having been initially denied before being reissued following a medical flight test. An autopsy revealed the presence of "invasive chordoma with lung metastases."
Columbus, Mississippi - October 20, 1977
A Piper PA-31 aircraft, traveling from Tupelo, crashed near Columbus, leading to the deaths of six people (two crew, four passengers). The NTSB report could not determine the exact reason for the pilot losing control, but it did note that the pilot suffered from "severe coronary artery disease."
Aberdeen, Mississippi - December 24, 1980
A Cessna 172M, on a flight from Detroit to Aberdeen, stalled and spun out of control in icy weather conditions. Six individuals, comprising one crew member and five passengers, perished in the crash. Contributing factors identified by the NTSB included a failure to maintain adequate flight speed and poor decision-making, both before and during the flight. The aircraft was also reportedly near its maximum weight, and the runway was unlit.
Gillsburg, Mississippi - October 20, 1977
Perhaps the most culturally resonant of Mississippi's air disasters, this crash involved a chartered plane carrying members of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The aircraft, en route from Greenville, South Carolina, to a concert in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ran out of fuel over the Mississippi swamps. The ensuing emergency landing attempt proved unsuccessful, claiming six lives. Those lost included:
- Frontman Ronnie Van Zant
- Guitarist Steve Gaines
- Backup singer Cassie Gaines (Steve's sister)
- Pilot Walter Wiley McCreary
- Co-pilot William John Gray
- Dean Kilpatric, assistant band manager
A monument now marks the approximate crash site in Mississippi, serving as a somber reminder of the event.
Jackson, Mississippi - November 11, 1978
A Beech 60 experienced engine failure while en route from Montgomery, Alabama, to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The crash resulted in the deaths of eight people, including one crew member and seven passengers. The NTSB cited adverse weather conditions, such as sleet, freezing rain, and fog, in combination with improper flight planning and decision-making, as significant factors contributing to the tragedy.
Gulfport, Mississippi - March 1, 1979
A Beech BE-70 stalled while circling to land at the Gulfport-Biloxi airport. The aircraft, which had departed from Houston, Texas, with an intended destination of New Orleans, crashed, killing eight individuals (one crew, seven passengers). The NTSB report highlighted issues related to inadequate preparation and planning, maintenance and inspection problems, and improper loading of the aircraft. The incident was further complicated by reports of the nose baggage door opening during takeoff, a starter interruption, and inoperable wing flaps.
The Deadliest Air Crash in Mississippi History
The most devastating air crash in Mississippi's history was not a civil aviation incident but a military one. On July 10, 2017, a Marine Corps' Lockheed KC-130 crashed in LeFlore County, resulting in the loss of 16 service members. The aircraft vanished from air traffic control radar over Mississippi, and wreckage was found scattered over a five-mile radius.
A subsequent U.S. Marine Corps accident report attributed the disaster to improper repairs. It was determined that a propeller blade failed and penetrated the fuselage, entering the passenger compartment while the plane was at cruising altitude. The aircraft broke apart in mid-air, leading to the deaths of all 15 Marines and one Navy sailor on board.
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