Cessna 140 accident near Easley, South Carolina, March 20, 1988
On March 20, 1988 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N2233N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Easley, South Carolina (Private Strip airport). It was a personal 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
- March 20, 1988 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Easley, South Carolina · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N2233N · no longer on the register · serial 13582
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPTD THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE 2,000 FT STRIP IN A 15 KT TAILWIND. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN LONG, AND HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE LDG AND TAKEOFF AGAIN. DURING INITIAL CLIMB, HE FELT THE TAILWHEEL HIT TREES LOCATED AT THE END OF THE RWY. HE SUBSEQUENTLY 'PULLED THE POWER' AND STALLED INTO THE TREES. THE PLT NOTED THAT HE HAD INTENTIONALLY LANDED WITH THE WIND BECAUSE THE SAME TREES PRECLUDED LANDING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE TREES WERE AT LEAST 50 FT HIGH. THE PLT ALSO NOTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS BASED AT THE AIRSTRIP, AND THAT HE HAS FLOWN IN & OUT OF THE STRIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.
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: 1,160 hours in all; 1,160 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Greenville SC at 6:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from AND, 23 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N2233N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.