Grumman GA-7 accident near Spartansburg, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1989
On January 26, 1989 at about 9:23 pm local time, a Grumman GA-7, registered N115DS, was destroyed in an accident near Spartansburg, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS DECISION TO DISREGARD THE WEATHER FORECAST AND ATTEMPT FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS. AFTER THE WINGS STARTED TO ICE UP, THE PILOT INITIATED A CLIMB BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND INADVERTANTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT WHICH ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED HIGH SPEED DESCENT TO THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 1989 · about 9:23 pm local time
- Place
- Spartansburg, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Grumman GA-7
- Registration
- N115DS · registry record · serial GA-70115
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER RECEIVING A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM FSS THE PILOT DECIDED TO FLY INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS WITH AN AIRCRAFT THAT WAS NEITHER CERTIFIED NOR EQUIPPED FOR FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT 6,100 FEET WHEN THE PILOT TOLD ATC THAT HE WAS PICKING UP ICE AND NEEDED A HIGHER ALTITUDE. HE WAS CLEARED TO 8,000 FEET. ACCORDING TO ATC RADAR DATA, THE AIRCRAFT REACHED 6,500 FEET, AND 12 SECONDS LATER IT WAS AT 3,500 FEET WHEN RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN IN A HIGH SPEED DIVE AT FULL POWER JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,510 hours in all; 780 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 322 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,566 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 1988; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-D1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNS Lancaster PA at 7:40 pm
- Destination: MBS Saginaw MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:36 pm from ERI, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.