Branham's Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Darlington, South Carolina 29532
Monday, September 14, 1992 18:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT LIFT OFF BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER. A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE TO AVOID HOUSES, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION WIRES. THE AIRPLANE THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND AND SLID INTO AN OUT BUILDING ADJACENT TO A RESIDENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTAINED AN OILY, FOUL SMELLING CONTAMINANT. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD RECENTLY BOUGHT 300 GALLONS OF 100LL FUEL FROM A LOCAL FIXED BASE OPERATOR. THE FUEL WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE PILOT'S FUEL FARM ON HIS AIRFIELD IN A TANK WHICH HE USES TO MIX CHEMICALS FOR AERIAL APPLICATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE IMPROPER SERVICING OF THE AIRPLANE WITH CONTAMINATED FUEL BY THE OWNER PILOT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/14/1992
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1855
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DARLINGTON
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29532
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BRANHAM'S
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6J7
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 40
Airport Elevation 165
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1923 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID FLO
Elevation of weather observation facility 147
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 800
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2867
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 14 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47711
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:17PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5754X
NTSB Number ATL92LA180
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 320
Aircraft Series Identifier 320
Aircraft Serial Number 320-0054
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 5
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 6 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 1419
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRANHAM, JOHN R.
Aircraft Owner Street Address POST OFFICE BOX 209
Aircraft Owner City DARLINGTON
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29532
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BRANHAM, JOHN R.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address POST OFFICE BOX 209
Operator City DARLINGTON
Operator State SC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 29532
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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 6J7
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1855
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 6J7
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --