Amateur-built Putts Special accident near Sumter, South Carolina, July 7, 2008
On July 7, 2008 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Putts Special, registered N1959C, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Sumter, South Carolina (Sumter 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 the proper glideslope and clearance from obstacles. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's limited experience in the airplane type.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2008 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sumter, South Carolina · Sumter Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Putts Special
- Registration
- N1959C · registry record · serial CT-001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing the first landing of a planned series of traffic pattern touch-and-go operations. During the final approach, the airplane descended rapidly and the right wing tip clipped the top of a small tree. The airplane yawed and the airspeed decreased, resulting in a hard landing on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that weather was not a factor in the accident. He believed that his failure to maintain adequate altitude on approach caused the accident, and his limited experience in the accident airplane contributed to the accident. The pilot had 0.2 hours of flight time in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
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 during takeoff/land during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Flight time: 131 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 110 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503DCSI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMS Sumter SC at 10:20 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,081 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
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.
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.