Piper J-4E accident near Timmonsville, South Carolina, December 15, 1991
On December 15, 1991 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper J-4E, registered N38153, was substantially damaged in an accident near Timmonsville, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER (NONMECHANICAL) DUE TO INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, A FORCED LANDING, AND IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 15, 1991 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Timmonsville, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-4E · all J-4Es on the register
- Registration
- N38153 · registry record · serial 41568
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING HIS AIRPLANE AT 1,000 FEET AGL IN VFR CONDITIONS WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT CONDUCTED A FORCED LANDING TO A FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD. THE AIRPLANE STALLED ON FINAL APPROACH, LANDED HARD, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE AND FUEL SYSTEM BY THE FAA, REVEALED THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 140 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 78 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 58J Timmonsville SC at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from FLO, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.