Cessna 305A accident near N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, July 12, 1983
On July 12, 1983 at about 6:29 pm local time, a Cessna 305A, registered N5172G, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
- July 12, 1983 · about 6:29 pm local time
- Place
- N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305A · all 305As on the register
- Registration
- N5172G · registry record · serial 21513
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT STALLED INTO AN INLAND WATERWAY SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FOR A BANNER TOWING FLT. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD JUST REFUELED AND MADE A TAKEOFF. HE WAS ON THE CROSSWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. HE STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CLIMB EVEN AT FULL POWER. HOWEVER A WITNESS STATED THAT THE ACFT JUST MADE A LOW PASS OVER A SIGN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF RWY 23. AFTER THE LOW PASS THE ACFT MADE A SHARP TURN AT 50 TO 75 FT AGL AND STALLED INTO THE WATER. WINDS WERE REPORTED 7-11 KTS BETWEEN 1750 AND 1858 HRS.NO GUSTS OR TURBULENCE WERE NOTED ON THE WEATHER REPORTS.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,840 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRE N. Myrtle Beach SC at 6:29 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:58 pm from CRE, 1 miles away
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.