Piper PA-22-135 accident near Georgetown, South Carolina, July 16, 1996
On July 16, 1996 at about 2:16 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N1544P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, South Carolina. 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
failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid an obstruction on the ground (inadequate visual lookout) during a precautionary landing, which resulted in a collapsed nose gear and subsequent nose over. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions, and the pilot becaming lost/disoriented.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1996 · about 2:16 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N1544P · no longer on the register · serial 22-2407
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he became disoriented, while circumnavigating weather with a low ceiling. He then made a precautionary landing in an open field. During the landing, the airplane collided with a 5 gallon water pump tank, collapsing the nose wheel. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted.
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: 2,100 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1995; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8S5 Mt Pleasant SC at 1:00 pm
- Destination: HWY Conway SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:14 pm from CRE, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.