Piper PA-28-140 accident near Johns Island, South Carolina, January 30, 1983
On January 30, 1983 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N4548R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Johns Island, South Carolina (Charleston Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- January 30, 1983 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Johns Island, South Carolina · Charleston Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N4548R · no longer on the register · serial 28-21254
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASH LANDED IN A SWAMP AS THE PILOT TRIED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT DURING A FORCED LANDING. THE ENGINE LOST POWERDURING TAKEOFF CLIMB AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL. WITNESSES SAID THE ACFT WAS TRAILING BLACK SMOKE AS IT DEPARTED. DURING THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION A LOGBOOK ENTRY WAS MADE: 'RECOMMEND #1 CYLINDER BE RECHECKED IN 10 HOURS DUE TO SUSPECTED BROKENRING AND MORE THAN 10 LBS DIFFERENCE IN COMPRESSION FROM OTHER CYLINDERS'. THIS WAS NEVER DONE AND THE ACFT HAD FLOWN ABOUT 250 HOURS SINCE THAT INSPECTION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF AN OIL LEAK BECAUSE OF OIL POOLING IN THE COWLING. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE EXAMINED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PLUG FROM #2 CYLINDER WAS HEAVILY SOOTED. WITNESSES SAID THE PILOT HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE ENGINE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND WAS SEEN WORKING ON THE ENGINE. THE PILOT WAS GOING TO HAVE THE ENGINE DISASSEMBLED AFTER THE ACCIDENT BUT WAS NOT DONE.
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: 510 hours in all; 460 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 430 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,742 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 22, 1981; 252 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 5J6 Isle Of Palms SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.