Cessna 172F accident near Seneca, South Carolina, April 9, 1995
On April 9, 1995, a Cessna 172F, registered N8197U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seneca, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR UTILITY LINES, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE WIRES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 1995
- Place
- Seneca, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8197U · no longer on the register · serial 17252097
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE DEPARTED WITH NO FIRM FLIGHT PLANS OR DESTINATION. AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT TURNED SOUTH TOWARDS LAKE KEOWEE. AS THE FLIGHT APPROACHED THE LAKE, THE PILOT DECIDED TO CIRCLE HIS BROTHER'S LAKE SIDE HOME. AS HE MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE, IT COLLIDED WITH A SET OF UTILITY LINES WHICH CROSSED THE LAKE. THE AIRPLANE FELL 140 FEET INTO THE LAKE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED CIRCULAR SCRAPE MARKS ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COWLING, ONE PROPELLER BLADE, AND THE FRONT SIDE OF THE NOSE GEAR STRUT. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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: 100 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,152 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1994; 170 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVL Asheville NC at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.