Amateur-built PT2 accident near Trenton, South Carolina, December 2, 2013
On December 2, 2013 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1994 amateur-built PT2, registered N355PT, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Trenton, South Carolina (Edgefield County Airport). It was a personal 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 airplane owner/pilot ‘s failure to follow the gascolator manufacturer’s recommendations for installing and safety wiring the gascolator strainer bowl, which resulted in the bowl separating and a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 2013 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Trenton, South Carolina · Edgefield County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PT2, built 1994
- Registration
- N355PT · no longer on the register · serial 1072
- 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, he was conducting a presale inspection of his experimental, amateur-built airplane. He ensured no debris was present in the gascolator and then conducted a test flight. During the test flight and while on final approach to land, the engine lost all power, and the pilot subsequently made a forced landing in a field. A postaccident examination of the gascolator revealed that the strainer bowl was not installed and safety wired in accordance with a service letter issued by the gascolator manufacturer. As a result, the gascolator strainer bowl became separated from the bail, which caused fuel starvation to the engine and total loss of engine power.
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
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel filter › strainer › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 283.2 hours in all; 11.5 in this make and model; 16.7 in the last 90 days; 8.1 in the last 30 days; 208.3 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 515 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 2013; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 4106-27 (piston); 551 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S17 Graniteville SC at 8:06 pm
- Destination: 6J6 Trenton SC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from DNL, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on September 23, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector’s Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Piper Service Letter 1141 | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 – View of Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 2 – View of Hanging Gascolator (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 3- View of Gascolator Held in Place (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 4: View of Gascolator with No Safety Wire (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 5: View of Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.