Nord (Sncan) 1101 accident near Spartanburg, South Carolina, May 7, 1994
On May 7, 1994 at about 3:18 pm local time, a Nord (Sncan) 1101, registered N1101A, was destroyed in an accident near Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was a personal 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 ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS AN INFLIGHT FIRE FROM AN UNDETERMINED SOURCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1994 · about 3:18 pm local time
- Place
- Spartanburg, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nord (Sncan) 1101
- Registration
- N1101A · registry record · serial 107
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, BLACK SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE AIRPLANE BY A PILOT IN ANOTHER AIRPLANE. THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS ASKED IF HE HAD A SMOKE GENERATOR ON BOARD, AND HE REPLIED THAT HIS AIRPLANE WAS ON FIRE. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN OBSERVED TO TURN DOWNWIND, FLY FOR ABOUT A MINUTE IN LEVEL FLIGHT, AND TURN TOWARD THE AIRPORT. AS THE TURN GOT STEEPER, THE AIRPLANE ROLLED INVERTED, IMPACTED THE GROUND, AND BURNED. FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRFRAME AND MELTED THE ENTIRE ENGINE ACCESSORY SECTION. THE NOSE CASE, AND MOST CONNECTING FUEL AND OIL LINES WERE ALSO DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. EXAMINATION OF AN EXHAUST FLANGE FOUND IN THE CHARRED DEBRIS REVEALED AN ELLIPTICAL PATTERN ON THE OUTER SURFACE; THE COLOR SHADES RANGED FROM A SOOTY BLACK TO WHITE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT A LARGER ENGINE HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON THE AIRPLANE, AND A NEW AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THE MAJOR ALTERATION. NO SOOT DEPOSITION WAS PRESENT WITHIN THE PILOT'S RESPIRATORY TREE.
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
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 115 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,288 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 11, 1994; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,435 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IGSO-540-1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPA at 3:15 pm
- Destination: SPA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:40 pm from GSP, 1 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.