# NTSB ATL04LA064: Atkinson SA 102.5, N8117L, Trenton, SC, December 28, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 28, 2003, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Trenton, SC - Coordinates: 33.735279, -81.818336 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7353&lon=-81.8183&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Columbia FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58576 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58576/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA064 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to a witness, as the airplane turned to final approach, the nose of the airplane pitched up and the airplane "stalled". The airplane collided with the ground and erupted in fire. The pilot did not report a flight control or mechanical malfunction prior to the accident. No aircraft records were recovered for the airplane, and the wood constructed airframe was consumed by fire. ## Factual narrative On December 28, 2003, at 1700 eastern standard time, a Atkinson Cavalier SA 102.5, N8117L, registered to and operated by a private pilot, collided with the ground during final approach at Edgefield County Airport, Trenton, South Carolina . The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged and there was a post-crash fire. The flight departed Edgefield County Airport, Trenton, South Carolina, on December 28, 2003 at 1645. According to a witness, as the airplane turned to final approach to land on runway 15, the nose of the airplane pitched up and the airplane "stalled". The airplane collided with the ground and erupted in fire. The witnesses pulled the pilot from the burning airplane. The pilot did not report a flight control or mechanical malfunction prior to the accident. No aircraft records were recovered for the airplane, and the wood constructed airframe was consumed by fire. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies. Review of pilot records revealed the held a foreign based private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, and glider ratings. The pilot's flight time was approximately 1800 hours. The pilot held a third class medical certificate, dated December 4, 2002 with restrictions for glasses for near and intermediate vision. The pilot received thermal injuries and expired on January 4, 2004. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8117L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8117L-2005-07-14), registration cancelled 2005-07-14, S/N 101, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Atkinson SA 102.5 - Registry model: [Atkinson CAVALIER SA 102.5](https://openairdocs.org/model/atkinson-cavalier-sa-102-5) (registry code 0561358) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 101 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Benoit R. Clavel - Registered owner: Jeanne Clavel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 6J6, TRENTON, SC - Airport: 6J6, Edgefield County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,800 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: DNL, 19 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20031228032969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031228032969A), Dec 28, 2003: Amtr SA1025, Trenton, SC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) Aircraft stalled on final while attempting to land at Edgefield County Airport, Trenton, SC. Aircraft impacted ground, rupturing fuel tanks and catching… 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. --- 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.