Huntsville Man Dies in South Carolina Plane Crash

Pilot critically injured after engine failure forces emergency landing attempt

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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A 30-year-old Huntsville resident, Andrew Frederick Nichols, died when a single-engine plane he was traveling in crashed near Gilbert, South Carolina. The aircraft was headed to Decatur, Alabama from Columbia Metropolitan Airport when it experienced engine failure and the pilot attempted an emergency landing at a nearby airport, but the plane crashed about 1,800 feet short of the runway.

Why it matters

Plane crashes are rare but devastating events that raise concerns about air travel safety, particularly when mechanical failures appear to be the cause. This incident also highlights the risks faced by general aviation pilots and passengers when unexpected emergencies occur midflight.

The details

The Cirrus SR22 aircraft crashed after the pilot reported engine failure and attempted to land at White Plains Airport. The plane impacted trees, resulting in damage to the wing tips, before tumbling and coming to rest inverted. Nichols died at the scene, while the pilot was critically injured and taken to a hospital. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the engine failure and the crash.

  • The plane departed Columbia Metropolitan Airport around 9 a.m. on February 7, 2026.
  • The crash occurred roughly 25 minutes later, around 9:25 a.m.

The players

Andrew Frederick Nichols

A 30-year-old resident of Huntsville, Alabama who died in the plane crash.

Aaron McCarter

A National Transportation Safety Board investigator who is leading the investigation into the crash.

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What they’re saying

“We're going to be talking to air traffic control, what kind of communication took place, and we're going to be pulling out the official ADS-B data, the radar data to see what the plot looked like.”

— Aaron McCarter, NTSB Investigator (rocketcitynow.com)

What’s next

The NTSB expects to complete a preliminary report on the crash within 10 days, though the full investigation could take 10 to 18 months to determine the exact cause of the engine failure.

The takeaway

This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the inherent risks of air travel, even for experienced pilots, and the importance of thorough investigations to improve aviation safety and prevent future accidents.