Folland Aircraft Co Ltd GNAT T 1 accident near Georgetown, SC
On July 29, 2013, a Folland Aircraft Co Ltd GNAT T 1 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Georgetown, SC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 29, 2013
- Place
- Georgetown, SC
- Aircraft
- Folland Aircraft Co Ltd GNAT T 1 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.299°N, 79.339°W
- NTSB ID
- 20130729X54557
Official records · ERA13FA340
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 29, 2013, about 1320 eastern daylight time, a Folland GNAT T 1, airplane N18GT, collided with terrain during an uncontrolled descent near the Georgetown County Airport (GGE), Georgetown, South Carolina. The pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to Foogair Inc, and operated by the airline transport pilot as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Yeager Airport (CRW), Charleston, West Virginia, destined for GGE. According to witnesses, the pilot radioed the airport on approach, and they went outside to see him land. The pilot crossed over the midfield and entered a right downwind for runway 23. The airplane made a high speed flyby over the runway between 100-200 feet AGL. At the end of the runway, the airplane pitched up approximately 30 degrees and began an aileron roll to the left. According to the witnesses, the first 180 degrees of the aileron roll was "perfect," but when the airplane reached about the 190-degree point, it abruptly pitched down and to the right and collided with the ground. An explosion was heard, followed by a plume of smoke. There were no distress calls prior to the accident heard over the radio according to the witnesses. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot, age 79, held an airline transport pilot certificate for airplane multi-engine land and a third-class airman medical certificate with limitations for correcti
Probable cause
The loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined due to postcrash fire damage. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to perform an aerobatic maneuver at low altitude, which did not allow sufficient time for him to regain airplane control.
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Browse: South Carolina
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
