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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.

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NTSB Report

March 22, 1992 · Cessna 182 · N5441B

Barnwell, SC

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 22, 1992
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome)
Location
Barnwell, SC
Aircraft
Cessna 182
Tail Number
N5441B
Operator
Vikings of Denmark
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
ATL92LA067

The pilot had taken a newlywed couple up on a ceremonial 'mile high' local pleasure flight as a wedding gift. He reported that during a maneuver he felt a 'shudder', and elected to make a low pass over an airport taxiway, by some friends on the ground with a hand-held radio, for a 'landing gear check'. During the second pass the pilot asked the couple to 'look to the right where the moon shines over Barnwell.' The airplane collided with a spectator on the taxiway. A passenger stated that the pilot then 'freaked out' and was in no condition to fly the airplane. During a subsequent landing attempt, a passenger prevented a go-around by forcing the yoke forward and pushing on the brake pedals with his hands. The passenger stated the pilot 'wanted to keep flying and he was going nuts.' The pilot fled the scene after the accident but returned later. The pilot had arranged to have the people on the ground 'moon' the airplane during the low pass.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ALTITUDE ABOVE THE GROUND WHILE MAKING A LOW PASS AT NIGHT.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT HAD TAKEN A NEWLYWED COUPLE UP ON A CEREMONIAL 'MILE HIGH' LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT AS A WEDDING GIFT. HE REPORTED THAT DURING A MANEUVER HE FELT A 'SHUDDER', AND ELECTED TO MAKE A LOW PASS OVER AN AIRPORT TAXIWAY, BY SOME FRIENDS ON THE GROUND WITH A HAND-HELD RADIO, FOR A 'LANDING GEAR CHECK'. DURING THE SECOND PASS THE PILOT ASKED THE COUPLE TO 'LOOK TO THE RIGHT WHERE THE MOON SHINES OVER BARNWELL.' THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SPECTATOR ON THE TAXIWAY. A PAX STATED THAT THE PILOT THEN 'FREAKED OUT' AND WAS IN NO CONDITION TO FLY THE AIRPLANE. DURING A SUBSEQUENT LANDING ATTEMPT, A PAX PREVENTED A GO-AROUND BY FORCING THE YOKE FORWARD AND PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDALS WITH HIS HANDS. THE PAX STATED THE PILOT 'WANTED TO KEEP FLYING AND HE WAS GOING NUTS.' THE PILOT FLED THE SCENE AFTER THE ACCIDENT BUT RETURNED LATER. THE PILOT HAD ARRANGED TO HAVE THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND 'MOON' THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LOW PASS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:45 EST
Nearest AirportBarnwell County (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182
Tail NumberN5441B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorVikings of Denmark
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470 · Reciprocating · 230
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total4
Crew 1Age 36 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind230° @ 5 kt
Visibility12 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 37 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time02:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data