Piper PA-46-350P accident near Laurens, South Carolina, March 14, 1999
On March 14, 1999 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registered N345RP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laurens, South Carolina (Laurens County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's disregard for current wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control during landing. Factors were the tailwind and wet runway surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1999 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Laurens, South Carolina · Laurens County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-350P · all PA-46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N345RP · registry record · serial 4622096
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, after the touchdown on runway 26, the pilot reported that the braking action did not appear to slow the landing roll speed and a tailwind was encountered on the roll out. The pilot then pulled back on the yoke, at which point the airplane climbed up slightly on the left side and impacted the ground. The airplane began to skid and continued off the left side of the wet runway. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane and a review of weather data from the nearest reporting facility disclosed that, the prevailing winds at the approximate time of the accident were 020 degrees at five knots with gusts to 19 knots. The pilot landed with a tailwind component.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,627 hours in all; 94 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,202 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 9, 1999; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,318 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AEZA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UDG Darlington SC at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 34A Laurens SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 1.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from AND, 48 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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 N345RP 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.