Rockwell GA-112TC accident near Allendale, South Carolina, April 4, 1998
On April 4, 1998 at about 1:10 am local time, a Rockwell GA-112TC, registered N111TC, was destroyed in an accident near Allendale, South Carolina (Alendale County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions, failed to maintain control of the airplane, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. Factors in this accident were fog, low ceilings and a dark night. An additional factor was the pilot's lack of an instrument rating.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 1998 · about 1:10 am local time · cases in 1998
- Place
- Allendale, South Carolina · Alendale County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell GA-112TC
- Registration
- N111TC · registry record · serial 13035
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument rated pilot was conducting visual flight rules flight when shortly after takeoff the airplane collided with the ground during instrument meteorological conditions. A witness reported the airplane was on takeoff climb and was about 200 feet above the ground before it disappeared into the clouds. He heard the engine 'rev up' just before impact. Before the flight, the same witness overheard the passenger question the pilot if he had checked the weather. According to the witness, the pilot said to the passenger,' the storm is over, it will be fine.' Earlier on the day of the accident, another witness at the airport saw the airplane land and he described the weather at the time as a ceiling of no more than 300 feet and one mile visibility. Examination of the aircraft wreckage did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction.
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: 220 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TO-360-C1A6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 88J at 1:10 am
- Destination: 73J Beaufort SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,993 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 0.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:12 am from OGB, 45 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N111TC on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Rockwell 14 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming TO-360-C1A6D 4 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in South Carolina 1,035 since 1982 · 172 in the last ten years
- South Carolina 3,113 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/MIA98FA121.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.