Piper PA32 accident near Charleston, South Carolina, August 3, 2008
On August 3, 2008 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA32, registered N4376X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind condition and a wind gust, as reported by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2008 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Charleston, South Carolina · Charleston · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32 300 · all PA32s on the register
- Registration
- N4376X · no longer on the register · serial 32-7640017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was on final approach to land on runway 15 when he experienced a sudden wind gust and made a "very hard landing." As the pilot taxied the airplane to the ramp, the nose landing gear collapsed. Post-accident inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the firewall, fuselage, and engine and nose strut mount assemblies. Winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 220 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,164 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,997 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 19, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,910 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: CHS Charleston SC at 6:30 pm
- Destination: CHS Charleston SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 9,001 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from CHS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.