Piper PA-18-150 accident near Soccastee, South Carolina, May 13, 1992
On May 13, 1992 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N3841Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soccastee, South Carolina. It was an other work-use 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 MISMANAGEMENT OF HIS FUEL IN THAT HE EXHAUSTED FUEL IN ONE TANK, THEN FAILED TO SELECT THE TANK WITH FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1992 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Soccastee, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3841Z · registry record · serial 18-7595
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A BANNER TOW FLIGHT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ALTERNATELY SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. AS HE DEPARTED THE OPERATING AREA TO RETURN TO BASE, THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE INTO A FIELD WHERE THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT HE WENT TO THE ACCIDENT SITE & FOUND NO FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK. THE RIGHT TANK WAS NEARLY FULL, HE SAID. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT TANK POSITION. AFTER RIGHTING THE AIRPLANE, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO START THE ENGINE. WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS MOVED TO THE RIGHT TANK POSITION, THE ENGINE STARTED AND OPERATED. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THAT IT WAS CAPABLE OF NORMAL OPERATION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,269 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 323 in the last 90 days; 135 in the last 30 days; 1,110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,618 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 18, 1992; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360A3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky Signs, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Conway SC at 2:41 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from CRE, 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.