Beech BE-18 incident near Anderson, South Carolina, May 25, 1990
On May 25, 1990 at about 7:45 am local time, a Beech BE-18, registered N52A, was involved in an incident near Anderson, South Carolina (Anderson County airport). It was a positioning 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WHILE TAXIING TO THE RAMP. A FACTOR IN THE INCIDENT WAS A DARK, UNLIGHTED RAMP AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1990 · about 7:45 am local time
- Place
- Anderson, South Carolina · Anderson County · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-18
- Registration
- N52A · no longer on the register · serial BA-114
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO PARK IN THE GRASSY AREA BEHIND THE PAVED PARKING RAMP. AS THE PILOT TRANSITIONED FROM THE PAVED TAXIWAY THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLIDED WITH A CULVERT. THE COLLISION DAMAGED THE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY. THE PILOT'S VISION WAS REDUCED BECAUSE THE RAMP LIGHTS WERE NOT ON.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 6,950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-E1C4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLT Charlotte NC at 6:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 am from AND
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.