Hilton Head - Cookeville

On December 10, 1987 at 10:30 PM, Hilton Head - Cookeville experienced a crash involving Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I, operated by Tennessee Wings, with the event recorded near Hilton Head South Carolina.

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

2 people were known to be on board, 2 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: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Aircraft departed coastal airport at night with 400 feet partial obscuration in patchy fog. Ground witnesses who heard aircraft depicted a circling flight path to the right after takeoff. Engine, propellers and turbo teardowns demonstrated both engines were operating at high power and no evidence was found of a pre-impact malfunction. Aircraft never appeared on radar and no communication was attempted after takeoff. Review of pilot records showed atypically low total instrument flight hours. Pic was cleared to maintain runway heading after takeoff and climb to 2,000 feet. Both occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N777RC, MSN 421A-0149, year of manufacture 1968.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 32.1618°, -80.7513°.