Cessna 172 accident near Seneca, South Carolina, July 2, 1993
On July 2, 1993 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5812A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seneca, South Carolina. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1993 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Seneca, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5812A · registry record · serial 28412
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE RETURNING TO SENECA, SOUTH CAROLINA, FOLLOWING TWO EN ROUTE STOPS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE PILOT HAD FUELED THE AIRCRAFT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT USING FIVE GALLON CANS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF REFUELING THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AT ANY OF THE EN ROUTE STOPS. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT ONE GALLON OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 213 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 174 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 19, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,075 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Harleyville SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from AND, 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.