Amateur-built AVID SW 65 accident near Darlington, South Carolina, September 24, 2017
On September 24, 2017 at about 6:10 pm local time, a 1990 amateur-built AVID SW 65, registered N65SW, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Darlington, South Carolina (None 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
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a clogged fuel filter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 2017 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Darlington, South Carolina · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID SW 65 NO SERIES, built 1990
- Registration
- N65SW · no longer on the register · serial 367
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial climb in the experimental, amateur-built airplane, the engine lost total power. The private pilot switched fuel tanks, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot then intentionally slowed and stalled the airplane just above trees; it collided with the trees and ground, coming to rest inverted. The fuel tanks were constructed of fiberglass. Examination of the wreckage revealed that fuel was leaking from the right wing; however, the fuel filter was clogged with dirt and fiberglass. Although it could not be definitively determined how much fuel was on board, it is likely that the clogged fuel filter starved the engine of fuel, which resulted in the 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
- Fuel contamination during initial climb defining event
- Fuel starvation during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- 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 › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 999,999 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,151 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LBT Lumberton NC at 5:15 pm
- Destination: PVT Darlington SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from UDG, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 10, 2018. 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 | Interview Summaries | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Map of Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo | 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.