Piper PA-18 accident near Conway, South Carolina, July 2, 1995
On July 2, 1995 at about 1:38 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N8048D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Conway, South Carolina (Sky Field). It was an other work-use 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1995 · about 1:38 pm local time
- Place
- Conway, South Carolina · Sky Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N8048D · registry record · serial 54-2592
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING THE PICKUP PHASE OF A BANNER TOWING OPERATION, ON A PRIVATE STRIP, IN CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HEARD A 'POP'. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ENTERED A STEEP NOSE DIVE. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD LOST ELEVATOR EFFECTIVENESS. THE DIVE SHALLOWED OUT BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS FOUND WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 518 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 453 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,586 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 18, 1995; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Observation at 4:45 pm from CRE, 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N8048D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.