Cessna 170A accident near Orangeburg, South Carolina, June 9, 1997
On June 9, 1997 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N2551V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orangeburg, South Carolina (Triplett Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reason. The pilot failed to maintain flying airspeed which resulted in a stall and then subsequent collision with the ground. A factor was, conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1997 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Orangeburg, South Carolina · Triplett Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N2551V · no longer on the register · serial 18056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the passenger, she reported that her eyes were closed during the take off and she only opened her eyes when she felt they were airborne. She stated that she opened her eyes when the airplane was above the trees and 'heard something hitting the aircraft multiple times' and 'realized that they were losing power and descending. She was then jolted forward in her seat and could feel the aircraft continue to descend until impact with the ground. According to the pilot, he has no recollection of the flight subsequent to initiating the takeoff roll. The FAA inspector stated, the aircraft 'stalled and came to rest in a heavily wooded, swampy area, a few hundred yards northeast of the grass strip'. There were no engine, or aircraft mechanical malfunctions reported by the pilot, or discovered during the wreckage examination. The weather data suggested conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
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: 690 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 652 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,964 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1997; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT SC at 10:38 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from CAE, 32 miles away
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.