Cessna 172L accident near N Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, August 1, 1989
On August 1, 1989 at about 3:28 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N336AF, was substantially damaged in an accident near N Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (Grand Strand airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FUEL SUPPLY, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PREFLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SWAMPY TERRAIN AT THE EMERGENCY LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1989 · about 3:28 pm local time
- Place
- N Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Grand Strand · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N336AF · registry record · serial 17260404
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. A FORCED LNDG WAS SUBSEQUENTLY MADE ON SWAMPY TERRAIN; THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LNDG. EXAM OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE MISHAP REVEALED WATER IN THE FUEL STRAINER AND CARBURETOR. THE ENGINE STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WATER WAS REMOVED. ALSO, IT DEVELOPED NORMAL POWER DURING A RUNUP, AND NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTED.
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: 450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,018 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1989; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:28 pm from CRE, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.