Amateur-built FISHER CELEBRITY accident near Simpsonville, South Carolina, March 1, 1999
On March 1, 1999 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built FISHER CELEBRITY, registered N1122V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Simpsonville, 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
The unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the total loss of engine power due to the failure of a plastic 90-degree fitting at the inlet fitting of the carburetor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 1999 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Simpsonville, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FISHER CELEBRITY FISHER CEL
- Registration
- N1122V · no longer on the register · serial AV1050
- 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 the flight departed with full fuel and after takeoff, he orbited the airport about 10-15 minutes at 1,100 feet agl, then proceeded on course at the same altitude. About 10-15 minutes later, he noted that the CHT increased but the oil pressure and temperature indications were normal. He verified the mixture control was in the full rich position and continued the flight, noting that the CHT continued to increase. He applied throttle to maintain altitude but the CHT increased and at that time, the engine rpm began to decrease. Unable to maintain altitude, he selected a site for a forced landing but was unable to land there due to a total loss of engine power. While descending for a forced landing on a off-ramp of a highway, the right wing collided with a light pole. The airplane then rolled inverted and impacted a fence. Examination of the engine by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector revealed that a plastic 90-degree fitting located at the inlet of the carburetor was broken. Additionally, all cylinder heads were found to be cracked between spark plug holes. Impact damage to the right aft cylinder head was noted.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 6,800 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 41 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1998; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SC72 Greer SC at 8:00 pm
- Destination: SC86 Easley SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from GMU, 7 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.