Globe GC-1B accident near Summerville, South Carolina, September 20, 2003
On September 20, 2003 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Globe GC-1B, registered N3721K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Summerville, South Carolina (Charleston Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to the failure of the engine # 6 connecting rod bearing. A factor was the collision with a gate.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2003 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Summerville, South Carolina · Charleston Executive · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC-1B · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3721K · no longer on the register · serial 1414
- 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 the engine began to make a loud "tapping" noise and began to vibrate. As the pilot maneuvered to make an emergency landing on a dirt road, the engine made a loud "bang," lost power, and collided with a gate on rollout,. Examination of the engine revealed that the number 6 connecting rod bearing failed and the connecting rod separated from the crankshaft. Review of the engine records revealed that the engine was removed from the airplane on September 29, 1987, and reinstalled on the airplane on September 22, 1998. There were no records indicating that the engine was stored in accordance with the manufactures service information letter, SIL99-1: Engine preservation for active and stored aircraft.
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: 721 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,499 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 26, 2002; 19 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental C-125-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DYB Summerville SC at 3:00 pm
- Destination: DYB Summerville SC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from CHS
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.