Alendale County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Allendale, South Carolina 29810
Friday, April 3, 1998 20:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-instrument rated pilot was conducting visual flight rules flight when shortly after takeoff the airplane collided with the ground during instrument meteorological conditions. A witness reported the airplane was on takeoff climb and was about 200 feet above the ground before it disappeared into the clouds. He heard the engine 'rev up' just before impact. Before the flight, the same witness overheard the passenger question the pilot if he had checked the weather. According to the witness, the pilot said to the passenger,' the storm is over, it will be fine.' Earlier on the day of the accident, another witness at the airport saw the airplane land and he described the weather at the time as a ceiling of no more than 300 feet and one mile visibility. Examination of the aircraft wreckage did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions, failed to maintain control of the airplane, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. Factors in this accident were fog, low ceilings and a dark night. An additional factor was the pilot's lack of an instrument rating.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/3/1998
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2010
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ALLENDALE
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29810
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ALENDALE COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 88J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 350
Airport Elevation 161
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2012 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 35
Weather Observation Facility ID OGB
Elevation of weather observation facility 197
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 799
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 3 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:09AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N111TC
NTSB Number MIA98FA121
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Rockwell
Aircraft Model GA-112TC
Aircraft Series Identifier GA-112TC
Aircraft Serial Number 13035
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RAYMOND C. THEISEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8050 RITTER ST.
Aircraft Owner City CENTERLINE
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48015
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 88J
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2010
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 73J
Destination City BEAUFORT
Destination State SC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 4993
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --