Cessna 152 accident near Allendale, South Carolina, March 14, 1994
On March 14, 1994 at about 4:00 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67581, was destroyed in an accident near Allendale, South Carolina (Allendale County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE IN THE VFR TRAFFIC PATTERN, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TREES. FACTORS WERE; HIS FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH SCHOOL DIRECTIVES BY NOT OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, AND THE RAIN, GUSTING WINDS, AND DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AT TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1994 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Allendale, South Carolina · Allendale County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N67581 · no longer on the register · serial 15281927
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OBTAINED A VFR WX BRIEFING AT ABOUT 1624 EST, WHICH CALLED FOR VMC ALONG HIS ROUTE. AFTER HE COMPLETED THE 1ST LEG, HE CALLED FSS TO FILE A VFR FLIGHT PLAN, BUT HE DID NOT GET AN UPDATED WX BRIEF, CONTRARY TO SCHOOL RULES. THE TAKEOFF FOR THE 2ND LEG WAS AT 2158, OR ABOUT 5 1/2 HOURS AFTER HIS WX BRIEF. AN UPDATED AREA FORECAST CALLED FOR ISOLATED THUNDERSHOWERS, AND RAIN SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS WERE OBSERVED IN THE AREA PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE ON THE 2ND LEG. DURING CRUISE ON THE 2ND LEG, HE REPORTED DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING VFR. HE DIVERTED TO ALLENDALE AIRPORT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT ENTERED TRAFFIC FOR RWY 17, THEN EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST SEEN IN A DESCENDING, LEFT TURN TOWARD RUNWAY 35. THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE VARIABLE AND GUSTY, WITH MOD TO HEAVY RAIN, AND A CEILING OF GREATER THAN 2,000 FEET. THE ACFT COLLIDED W/TREES AND CAME TO REST IN A PASTURE 1 MI SSE OF THE AIRPORT. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 140 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,367 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 9, 1994; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southeastern School Of Aero.
The flight
- Departed from: SAV Savannah GA at 2:58 am
- Destination: CAE Columbia SC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from AGS, 42 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.