Ridgeland – Columbia – Newberry

On February 3, 1971 at 09:38 PM, Ridgeland – Columbia – Newberry experienced a crash involving Rockwell Aero Commander 520, operated by Newberry Flying Service, with the event recorded near Columbia South Carolina.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 5, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. On final approach to Columbia Airport by night, during the last segment, the pilot overshot the center line and completed a sharp turn to the right when the airplane lost height and crashed in flames short of runway threshold. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all six occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N4190B, MSN 520-97, year of manufacture 1953.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 34.0008°, -81.0352°.