Piper PA-24-250 accident near Walterboro, South Carolina, February 26, 1984
On February 26, 1984 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6720P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Walterboro, South Carolina (Walterboro Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
- February 26, 1984 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Walterboro, South Carolina · Walterboro Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6720P · registry record · serial 24-1847
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DID NOT GET A GREEN GEAR DOWN INDICATION WHEN THE LANDING GEAR WAS LOWERED. A FLY-BY WAS PERFORMED AND HE WAS TOLD THAT THE LANDING GEAR LOOKED DOWN. THE PLT DID NOT PROPERLY OPERATE THE EMERGENCY SYSTEM. DURING LANDING, THE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE LANDING GEAR WAS OPERATED SUCCESSFUL DURING A POST ACCIDENT GROUND CHECK ON BOTH SYSTEM, EXCEPT THE GEAR DID NOT LOCK DOWN ON THE 1ST ATTEMPT USING THE NORMAL SYSTEM. THE ACFT WAS OVERDUE FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE OWNER STATED THAT HE DID NOT AUTHORIZE THIS FLT, BUT HAD INTENDED FOR THE PLT TO FERRY THE ACFT FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTIONAFTER HE (THE OWNER) HAD OBTAINED A FERRY PERMIT.
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: 2,030 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 2,030 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,525 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 1981; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from CHS, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.