Greenville - Columbia

On November 2, 1979 at 11:12 AM, Greenville - Columbia experienced a crash involving Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, operated by Bankair, with the event recorded near Greenville-Downtown South Carolina.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

7 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 71.4%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 6, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. After takeoff, while in initial climb, the right engine lost power. The pilot attempted an emergency landing and turned back when the airplane struck a power line and crashed in flames near the airport. The pilot and four passengers were killed while two other passengers were seriously injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration N66893, MSN 31-7405192, year of manufacture 1974.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 34.8585°, -82.4138°.