Piper PA-28-161 accident near Johns Island, SC
On March 25, 2023, a Piper PA-28-161 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Johns Island, SC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 25, 2023
- Place
- Johns Island, SC
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 32.669°N, 80.010°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230325106955
Official records · ERA23FA164
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Summary Of ATC Communications: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 25, 2023, at 1251 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N21480, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near John’s Island, South Carolina. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The non-instrument-rated pilot was traveling from Maine to Florida to meet friends at the annual Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida. A review of air traffic control communications and ADS-B flight tracking data revealed he departed Machias, Maine, about 0820, made two fuel stops, and landed at the Tarboro – Edgecombe Airport (ETC), Tarboro, North Carolina, about 1800. According to the pilot’s wife, the pilot spent the night at ETC in the pilot’s lounge. The following morning, about 0814, he departed for the Conroy-Horry County Airport (HYW), Conroy, South Carolina, and landed about 1043. According to an employee at HYW, the pilot said that he was headed to Sun ‘n Fun and had been fighting a strong headwind the entire trip. The pilot appeared tired, and the employee could see “fatigue in his eyes.” The pilot checked the AWOS and mentioned that he might stay the night and wait out the approaching weather. However, the employee saw the pilot walk out to his airplane, check the fuel, and depart. The pilot departed HYW at 1156 for the Palatka Municipal Airport (28J) Palatka, Florida, and climbed to an altitude of 1,600 ft msl. He was in contact with air traffic control and receiving flight following services. At 1243, a controller asked the pilot i
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s degraded judgement and performance due to fatigue.
More accidents in SC
- Beech 200, Feb 4, 2006
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Browse: South Carolina · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
