- Date
- August 9, 1986, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Orangeburg, SC
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4817NGray Drifter XP
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860809038129A
- Case key
- 7008
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The homebuilt acft crashed shortly after takeoff. Witnesses reported hearing a loss of power during initial climb. The acft then entered an abrupt right turn and descended to ground impact. Post accident bench test of the engine failed to disclose any mechanical failure/malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4817N
- Reported as
- Gray Drifter XP
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 0088
- Engine
- Rotax 503CC, 48 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Sammie J. Gray
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 25, 1986 · 1 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 110 total · 5 in this make and model · 80 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 95 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CAE, 30 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.