Cessna 320 accident near Darlington, South Carolina, September 14, 1992
On September 14, 1992 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Cessna 320, registered N5754X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Darlington, South Carolina (Branham'S airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER SERVICING OF THE AIRPLANE WITH CONTAMINATED FUEL BY THE OWNER PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1992 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- Darlington, South Carolina · Branham'S · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320 · all 320s on the register
- Registration
- N5754X · no longer on the register · serial 320-0054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT LIFT OFF BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER. A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE TO AVOID HOUSES, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION WIRES. THE AIRPLANE THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND AND SLID INTO AN OUT BUILDING ADJACENT TO A RESIDENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTAINED AN OILY, FOUL SMELLING CONTAMINANT. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD RECENTLY BOUGHT 300 GALLONS OF 100LL FUEL FROM A LOCAL FIXED BASE OPERATOR. THE FUEL WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE PILOT'S FUEL FARM ON HIS AIRFIELD IN A TANK WHICH HE USES TO MIX CHEMICALS FOR AERIAL APPLICATION.
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
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 8,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,419 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 1992; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-470B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6J7 at 10:55 pm
- Destination: 6J7
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:23 pm from FLO, 10 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.