Piper PA-38-112 N2609K
24 January 1998 · Laurens, South Carolina, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 24 January 1998 at about 18:07 local time, a Piper PA-38-112 registered N2609K was involved in an accident near Laurens, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:07
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Laurens, South Carolina, United States
- Nearest airport
- Laurens County (34C)
- Coordinates
- 34.4994, -82.0208
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112
- Registration
- N2609K
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Lynchburg → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL98LA040
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation that resulted in initiating flight in marginal visual conditions, and resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that during his preflight weather briefing he was told the weather conditions would be marginally visual the entire route. En route, circumnavigation was required because of the weather conditions. He decided that a fuel stop would be necessary, however, the selected airports had IMC. According to the pilot, he elected to 'stretch' the flight to the destination when told weather was improving there. About five miles from the destination the engine quit. The pilot stated he spotted a field and prepared for an emergency landing. On final approach, he saw power lines and attempted to go over them. The aircraft stalled, veered to the right and came to rest in an apple orchard.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-38 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar 1998 | Piper PA-38-112 | Dubois, Idaho, United States | Perham, John, J. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Dec 1998 | Piper PA-38-112 | Marsh Harbor, Bahamas | David Reich | No injuries | - |
| 8 Feb 1998 | Piper PA-38-112 | Deland, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 1998 | Piper PA-38-112 | Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jan 1998 | Piper PA-38-112 | Tremonton, Utah, United States | U.s. Aviation | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 Mar 1998 | Piper PA-38-112 | Tampa, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 May 1998 | Grumman American AA-5A | Sumter, South Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 May 1998 | North American T-28B | Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Cessna 152 | Columbia, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 1998 | Cessna 188 | Patrick, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 1998 | Piper PA-28-181 | Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States | William J. Winkles | No injuries | - |
| 5 Sep 1998 | Grumman AA-5B | Winnsboro, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |