# Accident 19910708026579A: Piper PA12, Myrtle Beach, SC, July 8, 1991

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 8, 1991, 13:15 local time
- Place: Myrtle Beach, SC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6907° N, 78.8893° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6907&lon=-78.8893&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4401M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4401M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA12
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 761 total, 120 in this make and model, 280 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL91LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA125) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910708026579A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ROUGH ENGINE. DROPPED BANNER AND DITCHED IN OCEAN OFFSHORE. NR4 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE BROKE AT PISTON END.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL91LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA125), Jul 8, 1991: Piper PA-12 (N4401M), Myrtle Beach, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING SITE AND THE WATER DITCHING.

## Other reports on N4401M (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19890520028019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890520028019I), May 20, 1989: Piper PA12 (N4401M), Conway, SC, Minor damage. Engine quit after liftoff. Unable to restart. Landed in field. Had both fuel selectors in off position on takeoff.
- [Incident 19860718058509I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860718058509I), Jul 18, 1986: Piper PA12 (N4401M), Anaconda, MT, Minor damage. Struck a fence after losing control while practicing touch and go landing. Blamed unexpected gusty winds.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.