N3955D

On July 10, 2004, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182A, N3955D, registered to and operated by Skydive Walterboro, collided with a truck on Highway 17A/Cottageville Highway while attempting an emergency landing in Walterboro, South Carolina. The business flight was conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured, and the truck driver was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated at Lowcountry Regional Airport, Walterboro, South Carolina on July 10, 2004, at 1400.

According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was a skydiving mission. He stated that after skydivers exited the aircraft, he began a descent from 10,500 feet msl in the direction of the airport. He stated that upon reaching 2000 feet msl, he enriched the mixture, and the engine lost power. He stated he turned the airplane directly toward the airport, but realized he would not make it and elected to land on a nearby road. During the emergency landing, the airplane collided with a pick-up truck and departed the road to the right. The pilot stated that his manager refueled the right wing fuel tank prior to the first group of jumpers. The accident flight occurred on the third flight after refueling. The pilot further stated that he departed on the accident flight with 1/4 tank of fuel indicated on the fuel gauges.

Examination of the wreckage revealed that the firewall was buckled, the right side of the engine cowling and fuselage were crushed, rivets securing the engine cowling to the fuselage were sheared, the right main landing gear collapsed, the right wing strut was bent, and the right wing tip was partially separated from the wing. There was no fuel leak or fuel odor observed at the scene or on the airframe. There was no fuel present in the left fuel tank and a trace amount of fuel recovered in the right fuel tank.

Examination of the engine revealed no visible external or internal component damage. During the post-accident examination of the airplane, the fuel tank was refueled and a functional engine run was accomplished. There were no mechanical anomalies noted during the examination of the airplane.