Piper PA-32RT-300 accident near Hartsville, South Carolina, August 18, 2006
On August 18, 2006 at about 12:41 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, registered N31911, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hartsville, South Carolina (Darlington County 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's loss of control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 2006 · about 12:41 pm local time
- Place
- Hartsville, South Carolina · Darlington County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300 · all PA-32RT-300s on the register
- Registration
- N31911 · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7885138
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot contacted the Florence Regional Airport (FLO) control tower personnel, requested the current weather conditions, and radar vectors to the GPS runway 5-approach to Darlington Jetport Airport (UDG). Control tower personnel cleared the pilot for the approach, and established the pilot on the 050 radial inbound to the airport. Approximately 6 miles from UDG, control tower personnel cleared the pilot to land, terminated radar service, and instructed the pilot to change over to the UDG UNICOM frequency. Approximately 4 miles from the airport inside the final approach fix (UMAGE) the pilot reported a missed approach, made a left turn, and began a descent to 1,400 feet. The control tower personnel contacted the pilot, and inquired, if he "had the airport insight." The pilot responded "negative." The airplane continued to descend until it was lost off radar. The airplane collided with trees and was located by emergency response personnel off a small private road in a field. Examination of the airframe, instruments, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories all revealed no evidence of a pre-crash mechanical failure or malfunction.
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: 3,023 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,229.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CKF Cordele GA at 11:00 am
- Destination: UDG Darlington SC
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from KUDG, 4 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.