Piper PA-18-135 accident near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, June 6, 2010
On June 6, 2010 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-135, registered N2150A, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (Grand Strand Airport). It was a banner-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a climbing turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2010 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Grand Strand Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-135 · all PA-18-135s on the register
- Registration
- N2150A · registry record · serial 18-1862
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that due to a spacing request from air traffic control, he elected to perform a 360-degree turn while on final approach to landing. He initiated a climbing right turn, but the airplane “wouldn’t come out of the bank and…entered a stalled spin.” The airplane collided with terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact failures or malfunctions of the airplane's controls or engine, and examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical anomalies.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 312 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 84 in the last 30 days; 180 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 26, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Barnstormer Flite Signs INC
The flight
- Departed from: KCRE North Myrtle Beach SC at 1:40 pm
- Destination: KCRE North Myrtle Beach SC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23, 5,997 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from kcre
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N2150A 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.