What happened
During a nighttime regional flight originating from Charleston, the aircraft experienced a simultaneous loss of power in both engines while at cruising altitude. In an effort to perform an emergency descent and locate a suitable landing site, the pilot lowered the plane's altitude. However, the aircraft type (unspecified) struck a residential building in Salley during this maneuver. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane. There were two serious injuries among the occupants of the aircraft, though no individuals on the ground sustained any harm.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical factors that led to the loss of power. The primary cause was determined to be engine failure during the cruise phase resulting from improper in-flight decision-making. Several contributing elements were noted by investigators, including:
- Severe mismanagement of fuel levels leading to fuel exhaustion
- Continued flight operations despite known equipment deficiencies
- Malfunctioning instrumentation, specifically an erratic fuel quantity gauge
- Poor environmental conditions, including low cloud ceilings and visibility restricted to 1/4 mile or less