Piper PA-44-180 accident near Columbia, South Carolina, September 27, 1995
On September 27, 1995 at about 5:56 am local time, a Piper PA-44-180, registered N2160E, was destroyed in an accident near Columbia, South Carolina (Columbia Metropolitan airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper IFR procedure by allowing the airplane to descend below the ILS glideslope and by continued descent below the decision height. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, low ceiling, and fog.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1995 · about 5:56 am local time
- Place
- Columbia, South Carolina · Columbia Metropolitan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-44-180 · all PA-44-180s on the register
- Registration
- N2160E · no longer on the register · serial 44-7995149
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and his safety pilot were both instrument and multiengine rated. They were on an instrument flight plan, and were executing an ILS approach to runway 11. The weather was in part: 300 feet overcast and 3 miles visibility with fog. The pilot had received a weather briefing, and reported that he had received the local ATIS at the airport. During the approach, the airplane collided with a 100 foot tall and a 150 foot tall pine tree, then crashed to the ground. Impact occurred about 1/2 mile from the approach end of runway 11. No preimpact failure of the engines, controls, or instruments was found during the investigation.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 380 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,758 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 22, 1995; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-EIA6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MAC Macon GA at 4:00 am
- Destination: MAC GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 11, 8,602 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:58 am from CAE, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.