One dead after plane crashes in Orangeburg County

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - One person is dead after a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza BE-35 crashed in Orangeburg County.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is conducting the investigation, the aircraft crashed in a field 11 miles north of Orangeburg Municipal Airport after the pilot declared an emergency and reported engine failure.

The NTSB reported the airplane was destroyed by post-accident fire. There was one person on board who suffered fatal injuries, NTSB stated.

Orangeburg County Coroner Samuetta Marshall said an autopsy will be performed on the victim on Tuesday. Marshall said the identity of the victim will not be released until an autopsy is performed.

WIS confirmed with Marshall the exact location where the aircraft crashed. Marshall said the crash site was at 5261 Columbia Road, on a field behind Bethel Fellowship Church.

Marshall said she will be meeting with the NTSA on Sunday.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported the crash happened Saturday around 10:20 a.m.

The aircraft took off from Lowcountry Regional Airport in Walterboro, with one person on board, FAA stated.

In a preliminary statement, FAA officials said the aircraft was heading to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. The FAA sent another preliminary statement later in the day that said the aircraft was headed to Jim Hamilton – LB Owens Airport in Columbia.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the incident. The Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office said they were also called to assist.

The NTSB said an investigator is expected to arrive on-site Saturday night to begin the on-scene portion of the investigation where they will document the accident site, airplane, and gather witness statements and any surveillance video that may have captured any part of the accident flight.

A preliminary report detailing the facts and circumstances of the accident is expected in two to three weeks, the NTSB stated. The final report, including the probable cause and any contributing factors, is expected in 12-24 months.

Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article's headline.

Stay up to date with WIS News 10. Get the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and Stream us on Roku, YouTube, Amazon Fire, or Apple TV.

Copyright 2023 WIS. All rights reserved.