Piper PA-12 accident near N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, July 26, 1995
On July 26, 1995 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3036M, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (Grand Strand airport). It was an other work-use 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 IMPROPER STARTING PROCEDURE USED BY THE PILOT IN THAT HE FAILED TO USE WHEEL CHOCKS TO PRECLUDE AIRCRAFT MOVEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE THROTTLE WAS NOT PLACED IN THE IDLE POSITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1995 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Grand Strand
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3036M · registry record · serial 12-1581
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN STOPPED ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY WHILE THE PILOT SWITCHED THE TOW HOOK TO CONTINUE HIS BANNER TOWING OPERATION. THE BANNER HANDLING PERSONNEL WERE ABOUT 1/4 MILE DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING THE ENGINE BY 'HAND PROPPING', BECAUSE THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRIC STARTING SYSTEM. THERE WERE NO CHOCKS IN THE AIRCRAFT TO 'BRAKE' THE WHEELS, AND THE THROTTLE WAS PARTIALLY ADVANCED. ONCE STARTED, THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED AWAY FROM HIM, AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: 700 hours in all; 75 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 25, 1994; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRE
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0, 5,996 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from CRE
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 N3036M 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.