Amateur-built RUTAN LONG EZ accident near Charleston, South Carolina, November 29, 1992
On November 29, 1992 at about 11:20 pm local time, a amateur-built RUTAN LONG EZ, registered N989LE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston Afb/Intl 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING AND HIS FAILURE TO NOTE THE RAISED ARRESTING DEVICE NEAR THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 1992 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Charleston, South Carolina · Charleston Afb/Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RUTAN LONG EZ RUTAN LONG
- Registration
- N989LE · registry record · serial 1989-LE-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKE OFF ROLL FROM A CIVIL/MILITARY JOINT USE AIRPORT, THE NOSE WHEEL OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE RAISED MILITARY ARRESTING CABLE. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT TO HIS DESTINATION. ON LANDING IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE NOSE TIRE WAS FLAT, & THE LEFT BRAKE WAS DEVOID OF FLUID. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CHECKED ALL APPROPRIATE PUBLICATIONS. HE NOTED THAT THE APPROACH PLATE FOR RWY 33 MENTIONED THE ARRESTING GEAR & THAT IT DID NOT APPLY TO CIVILIAN PILOTS. THE AIRPORT FACILITIES DIRECTORY WAS CONSULTED WHICH STATED THAT A RAISED, MILITARY AIRCRAFT ARRESTING DEVICE WAS LOCATED 1460 FEET FROM THE RWY 33 THRESHOLD.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 3,700 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,050 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 1992; 350 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CHS at 11:20 pm
- Destination: 40N Coatesville PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 9,001 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from CHS, 1 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL93LA032.