# NTSB IAD74II054: Grumman G-159, N8E, Charlestown, SC, April 8, 1974

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 8, 1974
- Place: Charlestown, SC · CHARLESTOWN, SC
- Location: 33.9696° N, 80.9165° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Charlestowne, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9696&lon=-80.9165&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 30, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 173441
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD74II054
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74II054

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-0020   74/4/8  NR.CHARLESTOWN,SC     GRUMMAN G-159       CR-  0  0  2  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1410                    N8E                 PX-  0  0  1  CTR PASSG-D               UNK/NR, 15910 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 1481 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        CLASSIFIED AS INCIDENT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOMESTEAD,FLA               WASHINGTON,DC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNCONTROLLED ALTITUDE DEVIATIONS                         IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO USE OR INCORRECTLY USED MISC.EQUIPMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           SYSTEMS - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: SWITCHES
           SYSTEMS - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INVERTER
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: ATTITUDE GYRO
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        REMARKS- RADAR INOP SWITCHED FM B INVERTER TO A.ROCKER TYPE SWITCH NOT IN A PSN.FLT DIRECTORS TUMBLED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8E-2018-04-04), registration cancelled 2018-04-04, S/N 94, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-159
- Registry model: [Grumman G-159](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-159) (registry code 3952202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce DART-529 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-dart-529-series) (registry code 54507, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage

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.