Cessna 175A accident near Greenwood, South Carolina, December 9, 1994
On December 9, 1994 at about 7:46 pm local time, a Cessna 175A, registered N6949E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenwood, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNAPPROVED MAINTENANCE WORK DONE BY UNCERTIFICATED PERSONS WHICH RESULTED IN A BROKEN STARTER DRIVE WHICH WAS NOT PROPERLY REMOVED FROM THE ENGINE. THE PARTICLES SHEARED THE MAGNETO SHAFTS CAUSING THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 1994 · about 7:46 pm local time
- Place
- Greenwood, South Carolina
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175A · all 175As on the register
- Registration
- N6949E · registry record · serial 56449
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER 39 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AT A GOLF COURSE. UPON LANDING, THE AIRPLANE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. A POST-ACCIDENT ENGINE INSPECTION REVEALED BOTH MAGNETOS SHAFTS WERE SHEARED BECAUSE OF A FOREIGN OBJECT WHICH HAD BEEN TRAPPED BETWEEN THE RIGHT MAGNETO GEAR AND THE ACCESSORY CASE. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, UNAPPROVED MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN DONE ON THE AIRPLANE BY AN UNCERTIFICATED PERSON. DURING THE MAINTENANCE WORK, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED IT KICKED BACK AND BROKE THE GEAR ON THE STARTER DRIVE. A MAGNET WAS USED TO RETRIEVE THE BROKEN GEAR FROM THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE ACCESSORY CASE WAS NOT REMOVED TO RECOVER THE REMAINDER OF THE BROKEN GEAR PARTICLES.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 8,475 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 8,365 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,430 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 30, 1994; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BNL Barnwell SC at 6:50 pm
- Destination: CEU Clemson SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; ovct at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from AND, 60 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.