Piper PA-28-181 accident near N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, December 27, 1993
On December 27, 1993 at about 8:03 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2205Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (Grand Strand airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION IN THAT HE FAILED TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO EXHAUSTING THE FUEL SUPPLY. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN AT THE FORCED LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 1993 · about 8:03 pm local time
- Place
- N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Grand Strand
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2205Z · registry record · serial 28-7990401
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND WITH THE RUNWAY IN SIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. HE SWITCHED TANKS AND THE ENGINE RECOVERED MOMENTARILY, THEN BEGAN TO SPUTTER AGAIN. THE ENGINE EVENTUALLY QUIT, AND A FORCED LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED IN A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TOPS OF SOME TREES, THEN LANDED IN THE FIELD. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP. THE DURATION OF THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT 3 HOURS AND 43 MINUTES. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND TO BE EMPTY OF FUEL. WHEN ELECTRICAL POWER WAS APPLIED TO THE AIRCRAFT, BOTH FUEL TANK GAUGES INDICATED ZERO GALLONS.
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: 222 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 178 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,345 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1993; 254 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Enterprise Seven Leasing, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CXY Harrisburg PA at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,996 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:05 pm from CRE, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N2205Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.