Cessna 172-N accident near Walhalla, South Carolina, May 16, 1987
On May 16, 1987 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172-N, registered N739QF, was destroyed in an accident near Walhalla, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- May 16, 1987 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Walhalla, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172-N · all 172-Ns on the register
- Registration
- N739QF · no longer on the register · serial 17270715
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT THE PLT TRIMMED THE AIRCRAFT TO A SLOW FLIGHT CONFIGURATION, AND CIRCLED A LAKE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT AN ALT OF APPROX 1,000 FT AGL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NEAR MAX GROSS WEIGHT AND THE GROUND TEMP WAS 82 DEG F. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE AND RAISED THE WING FLAPS; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED A GRADUAL DESCENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT PRODUCE MORE THAN 2,000 RPM AS THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN. THE ENGINE WAS GROUND TESTED AND OPERATED TO FULL STATIC RPM. THE REPORTED LACK OF FULL RPM IN FLIGHT WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: 126 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 95 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 982 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1987; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GMU Greenville SC at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from GSP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.