Cessna 411 accident near Aiken, South Carolina, November 20, 1982
On November 20, 1982 at about 11:17 pm local time, a Cessna 411, registered N544JW, was destroyed in an accident near Aiken, South Carolina (Aikens Municipal 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1982 · about 11:17 pm local time
- Place
- Aiken, South Carolina · Aikens Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 411 · all 411s on the register
- Registration
- N544JW · no longer on the register · serial 411-0039
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REQUESTED AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH TO THE ARPT & ADVISED APPROACH CONTROL (A/C) THAT HE DID NOT HAVE AN APPROACH PLATE FOR THE ARPT. A/C CLEARED THE ACFT FOR A NDB APPROACH TO RWY 24 & READ THE APPROACH INFORMATION TO THE PLT. WHEN THE PLT REPORTED PROCEDURE TURN INBOUND A/C ADVISED THE PLT HE WAS APPROX 4 MI SOUTH OF THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE & GAVE HIM A NEW HEADING TO CORRECT BACK TO THE ARPT. RADAR CONTACT WAS THEN LOST OVER THE ARPT BUT REAPPEARED APPROX 1/2 MI WEST OF THE ARPT & APPEARED TO BE MAKING A TURN BACK TO THE ARPT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ABOUT 4 MI WEST OF THE ARPT. \
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GTSO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: C Oxford MS
- Destination: C Aiken SC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 142°F (61°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.