Cessna 172 accident near Orangeburg, South Carolina, April 3, 2016
On April 3, 2016 at about 12:50 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna 172, registered N2124E, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Orangeburg, South Carolina (Orangeburg Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff, resulting in a runway excursion and a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2016 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- Orangeburg, South Carolina · Orangeburg Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 N, built 1978 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N2124E · no longer on the register · serial 17271163
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported while practicing take offs and landings, he made a standard approach and landing to runway 35. On takeoff, he reduced the flaps to zero degrees and he reported that the airplane was under control and over the runway centerline. After he applied full power and right rudder before lifting off the ground, the airplane started turning to the left sharply. He applied additional right rudder, he reduced the power, and applied full brakes. The airplane departed the runway to left into a swamp and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the firewall. The pilot verified that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind velocity at the accident site was 6 to 7 knots and the wind direction was 330 degrees. The weather reporting facility at the accident site reported that about 3 minutes after the accident time that the wind velocity was 7 knots and the wind direction was 310 degrees.
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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private, recreational
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 10, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 25, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 3,700 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OGB Orangeburg SC at 12:00 pm
- Destination: OGB Orangeburg SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,399 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KOGB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 25, 2016. 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 | Accident Photographs (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 3 pages | 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.