Piper PA-28-181 accident near Greer, South Carolina, December 27, 1993
On December 27, 1993 at about 11:23 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N4320X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greer, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING IN DETERMINING FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FLIGHT.
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 11:23 pm local time
- Place
- Greer, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N4320X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7690003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON APPROACH FOR GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT ADVISED AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THAT HE HAD TWENTY MINUTES OF FUEL LEFT. ATC OFFERED VECTORS TO ANOTHER AIRPORT WHICH WAS THREE MILES FROM HIS POSITION, BUT THE PILOT DECLINED. SHORTLY AFTER, THE PILOT REQUESTED A DIVERSION TO THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT , WHICH ATC APPROVED. APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD LOST ENGINE POWER AND WOULD HAVE TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY LANDING. ATC ADVISED THE PILOT OF A HIGHWAY LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM HIS POSITION. DURING THE EMERGENCY APPROACH, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO AVOID ONCOMING AUTOMOTIVE TRAFFIC AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED CALCULATING TWENTY MINUTES OF RESERVE FUEL DURING PREFLIGHT PLANNING. HE STATED THAT DURING THE FLIGHT, HE OBSERVED THAT HIS ACTUAL TIME ENROUTE WAS LESS THAN HE HAD PLANNED, AND THOUGHT HE WOULD HAVE ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE FAILED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HIS USE OF 75% POWER DURING THE FLIGHT INSTEAD OF 65% HE HAD USED FOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND THE ADDITIONAL FUEL BURN AS A RESULT.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 504 hours in all; 398 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 386 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,364 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 24, 1993; 149 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BWI Baltimore MD at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from GSP, 18 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.
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.