Amateur-built SEAWIND 3000 accident near Chapin, South Carolina, October 3, 2000
On October 3, 2000 at about 12:15 pm local time, a amateur-built SEAWIND 3000, registered N98GG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chapin, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2000 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Chapin, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SEAWIND 3000 SEAWIND 30
- Registration
- N98GG · registry record · serial 18
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot initiated a fuel management procedure that resulted in the transfer of fuel to the main tanks. As the airplane climbed through 3000 feet, the engine lost power and subsequently quit. The pilot selected a pasture for an emergency landing. During the final approach to land, the airplane collided with a stand of trees short of the pasture. The post-crash examination of the fuel system showed that the fuel tanks were ruptured and the exact amount of fuel at the time of the accident was not determined. Examination of the engine also failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction. A successful functional run of the engine was accomplished.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,761 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 5,761 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 59 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 2000; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Lake Murray SC at 12:00 pm
- Destination: 06A Tuskegee AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from CAE, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL01LA004.