Amateur-built 7ECA accident near Summerville, South Carolina, October 30, 2004
On October 30, 2004 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built 7ECA, registered N57388, was substantially damaged in an accident near Summerville, South Carolina (Summerville Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 2004 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Summerville, South Carolina · Summerville Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 7ECA
- Registration
- N57388 · no longer on the register · serial 937-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed an engine run-up and then departed from runway 24. The takeoff appeared and sounded to be normal. The airplane reached approximately 400 feet above the ground, beyond the end of the runway and witnesses no longer heard engine noise or saw the propeller turning. The airplane entered a steep left turn toward runway 06 and disappeared below the tree line. Witnesses heard the engine start back up and then heard the airplane collide with the ground. Examination of the accident site revealed the airplane came to rest south of the approach end of runway 06, 40 feet to the left of the taxiway, next to a retention pond. Both wings were detached from the fuselage. The right tank had 4 gallons of fuel and the left tank was full. Continuity of the flight control system was established. The engine was recovered from the accident site and further examination disclosed both magnetos produced a spark through the leads during engine rotation. Engine continuity was confirmed and all four cylinders produced compression. The engine ran for over two minutes at 1750 RPM. The post-accident examination of the airframe and subsystems failed to disclose a mechanical problems or component failure.
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, student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
Crew member
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,900 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,279.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2004; 17.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DYB Summerville SC at 9:28 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,701 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from KCHS, 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.