Cessna 320 N5754X
14 September 1992 · Darlington, South Carolina, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 14 September 1992 at about 22:55 local time, a Cessna 320 registered N5754X, operated by Branham, John R., was involved in an accident near Darlington, South Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Darlington, South Carolina, United States
- Nearest airport
- Branham's (6J7)
- Coordinates
- 34.2891, -79.8694
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320
- Registration
- N5754X
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Branham, John R.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL92LA180
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE IMPROPER SERVICING OF THE AIRPLANE WITH CONTAMINATED FUEL BY THE OWNER PILOT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 320 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 1992 | Cessna 320D | Aztec, New Mexico, United States | Dabbs, Thurman C. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 1992 | Cessna 320A | Novato, California, United States | Craig, Michael | No injuries | - |
| 24 Sep 1992 | Cessna 320B | Lowell, Idaho, United States | Ehrstrom, William H. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1993 | Cessna 320 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | John T. Rooney | No injuries | - |
| 21 Apr 1993 | Cessna 320C | No. Little Rock, Arkansas, United States | Sky Trader Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 1991 | Cessna 320F | Washington, Indiana, United States | DR. John C. Roberts | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1992 | Mooney M20C | Charleston, South Carolina, United States | Hannon, Fred W. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Mar 1992 | Cessna 172L | Starr, South Carolina, United States | Blaylock, Harry R. | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Mar 1992 | Piper PA-46-310 | Aiken, South Carolina, United States | A-1 Leasing, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1992 | William D Weeks GLASAIR I | Timmonsville, South Carolina, United States | Weeks, William D. | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 1992 | Cessna 182 | Barnwell, South Carolina, United States | Vikings of Denmark, Inc. | Fatal | - |
| 3 Apr 1992 | Cessna 210 | Florence, South Carolina, United States | Held, Daniel Z. | No injuries | - |