Swearingen SA-26AT accident near Columbia, South Carolina, September 6, 1985
On September 6, 1985 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Swearingen SA-26AT, registered N18SE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, South Carolina (Owens Field). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- September 6, 1985 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, South Carolina · Owens Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Swearingen SA-26AT · all SA-26ATs on the register
- Registration
- N18SE · registry record · serial T26-134
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING LANDING ROLL, AFTER SLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO APPROX 40 KTS THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED OFF OF THE RUNWAY FOLLOWING ACTIVATION OF THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING. THE PILOT RELATED THAT THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, BOTH FOLLOWING FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITIONS. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF NOSE WHEEL STEERING FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY PREEXISTING FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,640 hours in all; 5,874 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 22,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,277 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 26, 1985; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,062 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Airesearch TPE 331-1 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6M5 Hawesville KY at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 4,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from CAE
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.