Cleveland – Columbia – Fort Myers

On February 26, 1971 at 02:00 PM, Cleveland – Columbia – Fort Myers experienced a crash involving Volpar Turboliner 18, operated by Florida Community Bank, with the event recorded near Columbia South Carolina.

The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

8 people were known to be on board, 8 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: 7, passenger fatalities: 7, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft was completing a flight from Cleveland to Fort Myers with an intermediate stop at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, South Carolina. On approach, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to foggy conditions and obtained a special VFR clearance. On final, as he was unable to locate the airport, he decided to make a go-around when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames one mile short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all eight occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N47A, MSN BA-153, year of manufacture 1956.

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