Cessna 152 accident near Pelion, South Carolina, January 16, 1994
On January 16, 1994 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N69046, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pelion, South Carolina (Corporate Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR AND INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE STUDENT PILOT. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION FOR SUPERVISED SOLO LANDING TRAINING WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 1994 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pelion, South Carolina · Corporate Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N69046 · no longer on the register · serial 152-82458
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT, AND ON THE THIRD LANDING OF THE FLIGHT, WHEN HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO SOFT DIRT. THE SOLO STUDENT REPORTED THAT A GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED WITH THE AIRPLANE. THE WIND WAS REPORTED GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS.
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: student
- Flight time: 31 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,961 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 1994; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eagle Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: CAE West Columbia SC at 9:15 pm
- Destination: CAE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,350 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 pm from CAE, 20 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.