Cessna 152 accident near Greenwood, South Carolina, March 1, 2003
On March 1, 2003 at about 5:56 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67524, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenwood, South Carolina (Greenwood County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions and loss of aircraft control, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2003 · about 5:56 am local time
- Place
- Greenwood, South Carolina · Greenwood County · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N67524 · no longer on the register · serial 15285301
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during cruise flight at 2000 feet, the airplane entered clouds and the pilot began to descend to 1200 feet. The pilot requested assistance from air traffic, and was cleared to initiate a 180-degree turn. During the 180-degree turn the pilot became disoriented and collided with the ground. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were reported by the non-instrument rated pilot.
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
- Flight time: 89 hours in all; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,665 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2003; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7A1 Greenville SC at 4:50 am
- Destination: AIK Aiken SC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 am from GRD, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N67524 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.