- Date
- August 3, 1992, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Dovesville, SC
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8620PPiper PA-24-400
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920803028779A
- Case key
- 8515
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power which resulted from an undetermined malfunction of the ignition system. A factor was fog.
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
While cruising at 7500 feet MSL the pilot reported a gradual loss of engine power. The pilot established radio and radar contact with florence approach control and advised the controller of his engine problem. The pilot was given radar vectors to darlington county airport, the nearest suitable airport. Another pilot flying in the second airplane in the flight suggested several remedies for the loss of engine power. Finally, he suggested that the pilot check the magnetos. The pilot reported that the engine ran smoothly on one magneto but the engine almost quit when switched to the other magneto. Moments later the pilot reported a complete loss of engine power. The airplane disappeared off the radar scope and crashed 3 miles short of darlington county airport. The second airplane landed without incident but the pilot reported a layer of fog at the airport. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and the post crash fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8620P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-400
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-144
- Engine
- Lycoming I0-720, 400 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Burke Coal Company
- Registered owner
- Burke Coal Company
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 4, 1992
- Departed
- LNP · Wise, VA
- Destination
- CRE · N.Myrtle Beach, SC
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 04J · Darlington County Airport, runway 23, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 400 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FLO, 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.
Other investigations on N8620P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.