Beech C24R accident near Pickens, South Carolina, August 22, 1999
On August 22, 1999 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Beech C24R, registered N67198, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pickens, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to properly preflight plan and prepare for the flight's fuel consumption resulting in engine loss of power due to fuel exhaustion and the subsequent inflight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 1999 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pickens, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C24R · all C24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N67198 · no longer on the register · serial MC-722
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After having flown about 4 hours, the airplane was observed by two eyewitnesses at about 100 feet agl, with no discernible engine sound, about 2 to 3 miles northeast of the destination airport. The pilot transmitted 'mayday' three times and said that he had run out of gas. The airplane collided with 75 to 80 foot trees about 2 miles short of the airport. All engine and airframe components revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions, post crash. No useable fuel was found on the airplane. With the post crash addition of fuel, the engine and fuel source selector system operated satisfactorily.
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: 278 hours in all; 199 in this make and model; 205 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,376 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 1998; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N80 Ocean City MD at 5:00 pm
- Destination: LQK Pickens County SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.