Cessna 550 accident near Greenwood, South Carolina, November 17, 2012
On November 17, 2012 at about 4:45 pm local time, a 1991 Cessna 550, registered N6763L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Greenwood, South Carolina (Greenwood County airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Collision with a deer during the landing roll, which resulted in a compromised fuel tank and a postimpact fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2012 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Greenwood, South Carolina · Greenwood County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 550, built 1991 · all 550s on the register
- Registration
- N6763L · no longer on the register · serial 550-0673
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 5 seconds into the landing rollout, a deer appeared from the wood line and ran into the path of the airplane. The deer struck the airplane at the leading edge of the left wing above the left main landing gear, and ruptured an adjacent fuel cell. The pilot was able to maintain directional control, and the airplane was stopped on the runway, spilling fuel and on fire. The crew performed an emergency shutdown of the airplane and egressed without injury. The airplane was consumed by the postcrash fire.
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
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Flight surfaces (wing) › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,592 hours in all; 903 in this make and model; 158 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 8,655 as pilot in command; 2,620 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 21, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,501 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 2,910 as pilot in command; 1,750 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 26, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,611 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 16, 2012; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 14,100 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W Canada JT15D-4 (turbofan); 1,238 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada JT15D-4 (turbofan); 1,655 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Stevens Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: GYH Greenville SC at 4:30 pm
- Destination: GYH Greenville SC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 09, 5,003 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.43 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from GRD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.