Piper PA-24-250 accident near Rock Hill, South Carolina, November 6, 1990
On November 6, 1990 at about 4:08 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7840P, was destroyed in an accident near Rock Hill, South Carolina (Bryant Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE AIRCRAFT'S ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE THE RUNWAY DURING A LOW PASS AND ALLOWED THE PROPELLER TO CONTACT THE RUNWAY; HE THEN FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AFTER A PULL-UP AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1990 · about 4:08 pm local time
- Place
- Rock Hill, South Carolina · Bryant Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7840P · no longer on the register · serial 24-3062
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED IN A LOW PASS OVER THE RUNWAY AT HIGH SPEED WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. A STEP-DOWN DESCENT WAS MADE AS IT FLEW ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY. WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 1000 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END, THE PROPELLER CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN 'PULLED UP' IN A CLIMB. AFTER CLIMBING ABOUT 400 FEET, IT ROLLED RIGHT, ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED. A FIRE BEGAN AFTER IMPACT. WITNESSES & A WRECKAGE EXAMINATION INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND.
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: 530 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 29J
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from CLT, 15 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.