Robert F. Swinnie Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Andrews, South Carolina 29510
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Shortly after takeoff, the airplane lost power and collided with trees. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no fuel in the left wing fuel tank and approximately 1 to 3 gallons of fuel in the right wing fuel tank. The airplane's certificate holder stated that the unusable fuel for the airplane's configuration was 2 gallons per tank. Had the student pilot checked the fuel tanks prior to takeoff, he would have noted that there was little fuel in the tanks. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was found.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and the student pilot's failure to adequately preflight the airplane prior to takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/25/2010
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Andrews
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29510
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332700N
Event Location Longitude 0793134W
Event Location Airport Robert F. Swinnie
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PHH
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 --
Airport Elevation 26
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID GGE
Elevation of weather observation facility 26
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29178
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2011 2:42PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N97316
NTSB Number ERA10LA442
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 STINSON
Aircraft Model 108
Aircraft Series Identifier 3
Aircraft Serial Number 108-316
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 6 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Richard H. Gross
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City McClellanville
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29458
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Richard H. Gross
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City McClellanville
Operator State SC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 29458
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 PHH
Departure City Andrews
Departure State SC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PHH
Destination City Andrews
Destination State SC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2011 2:42PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --