Piper PA-38-112 accident near Mccormick, South Carolina, June 10, 1988
On June 10, 1988 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2609G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mccormick, South Carolina (Mccormick CO. airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- June 10, 1988 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mccormick, South Carolina · Mccormick CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2609G · registry record · serial 3879A0568
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HER SECOND SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. SHE HAD DEPTD DONALDSON CENTER NEAR GREENVILLE, SC AND HAD FLOWN TO ATHENS, GA WHERE SHE HAD COMPLETED A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. SHE THEN PROCEEDED TO MCCORMICK, SC AND FLEW OVER THE AIRPORT TO CHECK THE WINDSOCK. IT WAS FAVORING RWY 36. WHEN SHE WAS ON EITHER BASE OR FINAL SHE STATED THAT THE WIND WAS 'SWITCHING AROUND'. SHE FLEW A NORMAL FINAL USING THE SLIP METHOD TO CORRECT FOR DRIFT. AT TOUCHDOWN SHE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON ALL THREE WHEELS AND THE NEXT THING SHE KNEW THE AIRPLANE HAD COME TO STOP ON ITS NOSE. THE STUDENT HAD ABOUT 15 HOURS IN THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME, OF WHICH 5 HOURS WERE SOLO.
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: 49 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,894 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AHN Athens GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from AGS, 35 miles away
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.