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Accidents · NTSB ATL86LA206 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 150 accident near Surfside Beach, South Carolina, July 23, 1986

On July 23, 1986 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N4519U, was destroyed in an accident near Surfside Beach, South Carolina. It was an other work-use 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 23, 1986 · about 3:45 pm local time · cases in 1986
Place
Surfside Beach, South Carolina · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
Registration
N4519U · registry record · serial 15060519
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

DURING FIRST BANNER TOW OF THE DAY, PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG LOST POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER THE BANNER WAS HOOKED. THE BANNER WAS RELEASED AND ACFT DESCENDED INTO TREES 1 MILE FROM THE PICK-UP POINT. INSPECTION OF THE ENG CONFIRMED A MAGNETO IGNITION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR.

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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 320 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 270 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,800 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1986
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: SC28 Javika SC at 3:40 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 7 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL86LA206.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.