Mississippi

The non-instrument rated pilot crashed about three hours after taking off with 4 1/2 hours of fuel on board. He crashed while attempting an off airport landing in a large field. The field was located less than half way to his destination. The sheriff reported minimum visibility with snow and freezing rain. The occupant received only minor injuries, but the plane was destroyed by impact and ground fire. An examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a pre-impact malfunction/failure of the engine or in flight fire. The pilot provided the following account: he was cruising above an overcast at 17,500 feet when the left engine began cutting out and forced him to descend through the clouds; he descended to VFR conditions at 1,200 feet agl over snow covered terrain and determined his location by viewing a water tower. He then elected to land in a field when he saw smoke and fire coming from the engine cowling. While landing, the left wing dropped and touched down first.

On approach to Natchez-Hardy Ander Field Airport, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to low ceiling, fog and night. Following an incorrect altimeter setting, the twin engine airplane descended too low until it struck the ground and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a ferry flight from Pensacola to Baton Rouge. While in cruising altitude, he contacted ATC and reported an engine fire. Cleared to descend, he attempted an emergency landing in a field but on touchdown, the airplane crash landed as the landing gear were not fully extended. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On final approach to Jackson-Allen C. Thompson Airport, while established on the localizer, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field located about 1,2 mile short of runway. The passenger was killed and the pilot was seriously injured.

After takeoff from Gulfportg-Biloxi Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane banked right, descended and crashed near the airfield. All five occupants were injured, the pilot and a passenger seriously. The airplane was destroyed.

Following takeoff from Gulfport-Biloxi Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and sufficient speed. It stalled then crashed in a marsh located 1,500 feet past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

On approach to Memphis International Airport in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed in Olive Branch, about 8 miles southeast of the airport. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The twin engine aircraft was completing a demo flight from Montgomery, Alabama, to Tulsa, Oklahoma, carrying seven passengers and a pilot. While cruising at an altitude of 14,000 feet in icing conditions, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to divert to Jackson-Municipal Airport. On descent, the aircraft went out of control and crashed few miles from Jackson Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

On final approach to Yazoo City-Barrier Field, the airplane suffered an engine failure. It entered an uncontrolled descent until it collided with a house located short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. There were no injuries on the ground.

The airplane was completing a charter flight from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, carrying members of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band. At 04:30 CDT on October 18, N55VM had arrived at the Greenville Downtown Airport, South Carolina, from Lakeland, Florida. While on the ground at Greenville, the aircraft had been refueled with 400 gallons of 100-octane, low-lead fuel. On October 20 at 16:02 CDT, the flight had departed Greenville Downtown Airport for Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The pilot had filed an IFR flight plan with the Greenville Flight Service Station. The route of flight was to be Victor 20 Electric City, direct Atlanta, direct La Grange, direct Hattiesburg Victor 222 McComb, V194 and to Baton Rouge. The pilot requested an altitude of 12,000 ft and stated that his time en route would be 2 hours 45 minutes and that the aircraft had 5 hours of fuel on board. The pilot was also given a weather briefing. After reaching 12,000 ft, N55VM proceeded according to flight plan and at 18:39 was cleared to descend to and maintain 6,000 ft. This clearance was acknowledged. At 18:40 the flight told Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), "We're out of one two thousand for six thousand." About 18:42 N55VM advised Houston Center, "Yes, sir, we need to get to a airport, the closest airport you've got, sir." Houston Center responded by asking the crew if they were in an emergency status. The reply was, "Yes, sir, we're low on fuel and we're just about out of it, we want vectors to McComb, post haste please, sir." Houston Center gave the flight vectors to McComb and advised it to turn to a heading of 025°. N55VM did not confirm that a turn was initiated until 18:44. At 18:44:34, the pilot of N55VM said, "We are not declaring an emergency, but we do need to get close to McComb as straight and good as we can get, sir." At 18:45:12 N55VM advised Houston, "Center, five victor Mike we're out of fuel." The center replied, "Roger, understand you're out of fuel?" N55VM replied, "I am sorry, it's just an indication of it." The crew did not explain what that indication was. At 18:45:47 Houston Center requested N55VM's altitude. The response was, "We're at four point five." This was the last recorded communication between N55VM and the ARTCC. Several attempts were made by Houston Center to contact the flight but there was no response. At 18:55:51 an aircraft reported picking up a weak transmission from an emergency locator transmitter (ELT). The aircraft had crashed in heavily wooded terrain, during twilight hours, at an elevation of 310 ft near the town of Gillsburg, Mississippi. Both pilots, band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and the band's manager Dean Kilpatrick were killed in the accident. The aircraft was destroyed.