Piper PA-28-160 accident near Laurens, South Carolina, March 9, 2002
On March 9, 2002 at about 9:53 am local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N160D, was destroyed in an accident near Laurens, South Carolina (Greenwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot experienced spatial disorientation, which resulted in a loss of control and the subsequent collision with terrain. Factors were low clouds and dark-night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2002 · about 9:53 am local time
- Place
- Laurens, South Carolina · Greenwood · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N160D · registry record · serial 28-778
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While maneuvering for a night instrument approach, the airplane collided with terrain. According to a witness, a sound of an airplane circling his home was heard. Several minutes later the witness heard a "loud thud". At the approximate same time, Atlanta Center reported a loss of radar contact. The downed airplane was located several hours later following a ground search. Witnesses in the area at the time of the accident, reported dense fog. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular #60-4A: during periods of low visibility a pilot is particularly vulnerable to disorientation. Examination of the accident site showed that wreckage debris was scattered in a heavily wooded area over an area 110 feet long and 30 feet wide. The engine and propeller assemblies were buried approximately four feet into the ground in a nose down attitude.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 474 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,977 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 22, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320- (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8G6 Cadiz OH at 6:30 am
- Destination: GRD Greenwood SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 09, 4,993 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: vv at 100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 am from GRD, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.