Greenwood - Pontiac

On August 9, 1990 at 11:45 PM, Greenwood - Pontiac experienced a crash involving Beechcraft E18, operated by Royal Air Freight - Royal Air Charter, with the event recorded near Greenwood South Carolina.

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

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

The listed crash cause is human factor. The right engine lost power during the initial climb after lift-off. A witness heard a noise and observed flames coming from the right engine cowling as the airplane climbed. The airplane entered a turn after climbing about 200 feet, descended through a small grove of trees, crashed in a pasture, and burned. During takeoff, the plane's gross weight was about 11,050 lbs and the cg was behind the aft limit. Its maximum certified weight limit was 9,700 lbs. The pilot was aware of a gross weight problem before takeoff. An exam revealed evidence that the left engine propeller was in the feathered position and the right propeller was not feathered at impact. A check of the right engine disclosed that the n°3 cylinder intake valve had failed from fatigue. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N563W, MSN BA-139, year of manufacture 1956.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 34.1490°, -82.1129°.