Cessna 172F accident near John'S Island, South Carolina, July 20, 1984
On July 20, 1984 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Cessna 172F, registered N5110F, was substantially damaged in an accident near John'S Island, South Carolina (Charleston 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
- July 20, 1984 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- John'S Island, South Carolina · Charleston · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N5110F · registry record · serial 1725274
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SOLO FLT, THE STUDENT FLEW TO A LOCAL ARPT TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS. AFTER HIS LAST LANDING (ON RWY 9), HE ELECTED TO MAKE A X-WIND TAKEOFF ON RWY 21. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE ACFT BEGAN DRIFTING LEFT AT ABOUT LIFT-OFF SPEED. THE STUDENT INITIATED CORRECTIVE ACTION, BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED TO THE LEFT. HE THEN LIFTED OFF & HEARD THE STALL WARNING HORN. THE CONTROLS BECAME MUSHY AS THE ACFT APPROACHED THE TREES. THE ACFT THEN STALLED & IMPACTED THE GROUND JUST SHORT OF THE TREES.
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: student
- Flight time: 37 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 7, 1984; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Charleston Afb Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: CHS Charleston SC at 3:09 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from CHS
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.