Piper PA-38-112 accident near Laurens, South Carolina, January 24, 1998
On January 24, 1998 at about 6:07 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2609K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laurens, South Carolina (Laurens County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation that resulted in initiating flight in marginal visual conditions, and resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 1998 · about 6:07 pm local time
- Place
- Laurens, South Carolina · Laurens County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2609K · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0686
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during his preflight weather briefing he was told the weather conditions would be marginally visual the entire route. En route, circumnavigation was required because of the weather conditions. He decided that a fuel stop would be necessary, however, the selected airports had IMC. According to the pilot, he elected to 'stretch' the flight to the destination when told weather was improving there. About five miles from the destination the engine quit. The pilot stated he spotted a field and prepared for an emergency landing. On final approach, he saw power lines and attempted to go over them. The aircraft stalled, veered to the right and came to rest in an apple orchard.
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: 320 hours in all; 34 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 320 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,394 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1997; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LYH Lynchburg VA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: 34A SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from AND, 38 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.