Piper PA-28-161 accident near N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, December 8, 1994
On December 8, 1994 at about 1:41 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8075S, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (Grand Strand Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PRE-FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE TO ENSURE THE LEFT FUEL TANK COVER WAS PROPERLY SECURED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 1994 · about 1:41 am local time
- Place
- N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Grand Strand Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8075S · registry record · serial 288016043
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT, WHICH ORIGINATED FROM LINDEN, NEW JERSEY AROUND 1630 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, COLLIDED WITH APPROACH LIGHTS AND TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING AT NORTH MYRTLE BEACH AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT, WHILE ON A TWO MILE FINAL TO RUNWAY 23. ALTHOUGH BOTH FUEL TANK GAUGES READ EMPTY, THE PILOT BELIEVED THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE WAS INACCURATE. DURING THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION, NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN EITHER FUEL TANK AND THE LEFT FUEL CAP WAS MISSING FROM THE LEFT WING. THE RIGHT FUEL CAP WAS PLACED ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY.
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: 280 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 1, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LDJ Linden NJ at 9:30 pm
- Destination: CRE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 9,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from CRE
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.