Piper PA-25-235 accident near Allendale, South Carolina, July 23, 1995
On July 23, 1995 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N7601Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Allendale, South Carolina. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE GUY WIRE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WEATHER AND THE PILOT'S UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1995 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Allendale, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N7601Z · no longer on the register · serial 25-3693
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD ABANDONED THE SPRAYING OPERATION DUE TO LARGE THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY WINDS, AND WAS PROCEEDING TO ALLENDALE WITH A COMPANION AIRPLANE. HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE TERRAIN. HE LOST SIGHT OF THE OTHER AIRPLANE. BECAUSE OF A THUNDERSTORM AHEAD OF HIM, AND GUSTS FROM A STORM BEHIND HIM, HE ELECTED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD. DURING THE LANDING A WING STRUCK A GUY WIRE FOR AN ELECTRICAL POLE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,613 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 330 in the last 90 days; 117 in the last 30 days; 1,570 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1995; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Sycamore SC at 10:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from NBC
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.