Piper PA-28-180 accident near St. Matthews, South Carolina, March 5, 1994
On March 5, 1994 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N43571, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Matthews, South Carolina. It was a personal 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
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION WIRE LOCATED 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
- March 5, 1994 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- St. Matthews, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N43571 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7405204
- 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 IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 4,500 FEET MSL. AT THAT TIME, HE OBSERVED THE FUEL GAUGES TO READ ONE QUARTER TANK ON THE LEFT, AND FULL ON THE RIGHT. THE ENGINE QUIT, AND HE SET UP FOR BEST GLIDE SPEED. HE CYCLED THE CARB HEAT, AND CHECKED THE MAGNETOS. HE SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT TANK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. AFTER ABOUT ONE MINUTE, HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE LEFT TANK. HE CONTINUED RESTART PROCEDURES AS HE SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS SELECTED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE, INCLUDING A SUCCESSFUL ENGINE RUN, FAILED TO REVEAL ANY REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER, OR FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE TO RESTART.
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: 76 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,088 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 17, 1993; 101 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jb Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 71S Summerville SC at 10:10 pm
- Destination: FDW Winnsboro SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from CAE, 23 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.