NTSB Factual Report

On December 28, 2003, at 1700 eastern standard time, a Atkinson Cavalier SA 102.5, N8117L, registered to and operated by a private pilot, collided with the ground during final approach at Edgefield County Airport, Trenton, South Carolina . The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged and there was a post-crash fire. The flight departed Edgefield County Airport, Trenton, South Carolina, on December 28, 2003 at 1645.

According to a witness, as the airplane turned to final approach to land on runway 15, the nose of the airplane pitched up and the airplane "stalled". The airplane collided with the ground and erupted in fire. The witnesses pulled the pilot from the burning airplane. The pilot did not report a flight control or mechanical malfunction prior to the accident. No aircraft records were recovered for the airplane, and the wood constructed airframe was consumed by fire.

Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies. Review of pilot records revealed the held a foreign based private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, and glider ratings. The pilot's flight time was approximately 1800 hours. The pilot held a third class medical certificate, dated December 4, 2002 with restrictions for glasses for near and intermediate vision. The pilot received thermal injuries and expired on January 4, 2004.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.