Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

September 20, 1997 · Piper PA-28-151 · N9643K

Bennettsville, SC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 20, 1997
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Bennettsville, SC
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-151
Tail Number
N9643K
Operator
Richard Sanderson
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL97LA132

The pilot of a Piper PA-28-151 made an approach to land at a private airport. According to him, the airplane touched down after 'quite a bit of float.' The pilot stated he saw another airplane parked on the runway a short distance ahead, then he applied left rudder to avoid the parked airplane. As he passed the other airplane, the left wing tip of his airplane struck a hand rail, then the airplane turned left into a gulch and nosed over. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot did not properly plan his approach to landing at the airport. The PA-28-151 Owner's Manual showed that the airplane's required landing distance was approximately 1,100 feet. The runway was 2,300 feet in length. According to the pilot, the other airplane was parked about 550 feet from the departure end of the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause

failure of the pilot to properly plan his approach, and his failure to attain a proper touchdown point for landing.

Full Narrative

On September 20, 1997, about 1305 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA28-151, N9643K, crashed on rollout after landing at a private sod landing strip near Bennettsville, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the pilot, he landed at the private airport after "quite a bit of float". The runway had a "hill" in the middle which made it difficult to see the entire runway when landing. As he rolled over the hill, the pilot stated he saw another airplane parked on the runway a short distance ahead. The pilot then applied left rudder in order to avoid the parked airplane. As he passed the other airplane, the Piper's left wing tip struck a hand rail and turned left into a gulch. The airplane came to rest nosed over in the gulch. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot did not properly plan his approach to landing at the airport. According to the PA-28-151 owner's manual, the airplane's landing distance on a standard day, at maximum gross weight, with a 50 foot obstacle, and on a asphalt runway should be approximately 1,100 feet. Grass runways generally decrease the landing distance approximately 2-3%. The runway at Stanton was 2,300 feet. According to the pilot, the other airplane was parked about 550 feet from the departure end of the runway.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:05 EDT
Nearest AirportSTANTON (1nm ESE)
Runway12
Runway Length2300 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-151
Tail NumberN9643K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRichard Sanderson
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E30 · Reciprocating · 151
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 64 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 10 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time16:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data