Aeronca C3 accident near Summerville, South Carolina, July 4, 2005
On July 4, 2005 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Aeronca C3, registered N14532, was substantially damaged in an accident near Summerville, South Carolina (Dorchester County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The maintenance personnel failure to secure the intake valve adjustment jam nut which resulted in excessive valve clearance, and the subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2005 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Summerville, South Carolina · Dorchester County · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca C3 · all C3s on the register
- Registration
- N14532 · registry record · serial A-441
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately 25 minutes into the flight the pilot reported a smooth engine RPM drop from 2400 to 1000. The pilot selected an area for an emergency landing. During the emergency landing attempt, the pilot was forced to land in the canopy of a near by stand of trees. The post-accident examination of the engine revealed that the clearance between the rocker arm and valve stem was excessive. The jam nut backed off due to maintenance personnel failure to secure the jam nut. A review of the airplane maintenance log revealed that the valve assembly was last adjusted on November 24, 2004.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 950 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 950 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2005; 1.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,006 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aeronca E-113B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Summerville SC
- Destination: Summerville SC
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 24, 3,701 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from CHS, 15 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.