Cessna 172 accident near Newberry, South Carolina, September 29, 1991
On September 29, 1991 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N2862E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newberry, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT AND CLEARANCE WHILE MANEUVERING AT A LOW ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1991 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Newberry, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N2862E · no longer on the register · serial 17271351
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE MANEUVERING AT A LOW ALTITUDE, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY LINE 80 FEET ABOVE THE WATER AND CRASHED INTO THE LAKE. THE PILOT STATED THAT, 'THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF WE HAD BEEN FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED FOR OBSTACLE CLEARANCE....'
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 583 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 439 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,289 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 23, 1991; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Augusta Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 27J Newberry SC at 6:15 pm
- Destination: DNL Augusta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from CAE, 30 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.
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.