Piper PA-28-R200 accident near York, South Carolina, January 25, 2008
On January 25, 2008 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-R200, registered N1939T, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near York, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power due to improper welding of the crankcase, which resulted in fatigue failure of the through-studs and a subsequent separation of the number two cylinder. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 2008 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- York, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-R200 · all PA-28-R200s on the register
- Registration
- N1939T · registry record · serial 28R-7135137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departure, while climbing through 4,000 feet, the airplane experienced a "sudden and violent shuddering," followed by smoke penetration into the cockpit. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane was substantially damaged. Examination of the engine revealed the number two cylinder had separated from the engine crankcase and the through-bolts that attached the cylinder to the crankcase were fractured due to fatigue. Evidence of welding in the cylinder deck area of the crankcase was observed, which produced a soft condition in the cylinder mounting flanges and subsequent non-standard loading and fatigue fracture of the studs. The engine manufacturer does not allow welding in the critical cylinder deck area of the crankcase. According to the engine maintenance records, the engine was overhauled 2 years prior to the accident and had accumulated 679 hours since then.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Maintenance personnel
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 127 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,329 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rock Hill Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: UZA Rock Hill SC at 5:00 pm
- Destination: AVL Ashville NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.51 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from UZA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC08LA086.