Beech 58 accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, March 25, 1982
On March 25, 1982 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N3707N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina (Ridgeland Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 1982 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgeland, South Carolina · Ridgeland Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N3707N · no longer on the register · serial TJ320
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING LANDING, THE LEFT BRAKE WAS INOPERATIVE. WHEN HE REALIZED THE PROBLEM, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING TO STOP OR GO-AROUND. AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY WAS A DEEP DROP-OFF. THEREFORE THE PILOT USED THE RIGHT BRAKE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT GEAR SEPARATED IN SOFT TERRAIN AS THE PLANE ENTERED A DEPRESSION BESIDE THE RUNWAY. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THE LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS WET WITH HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE CYLINDER, PARAMOUNT MODEL VI-15-750-3, WAS DISASSEMBLED. AN INSPECTION OF THE MASTER CYLINDER PISTON SHAFT REVEALED SEVERAL COMPRESSION INDENTATIONS. THE INDENTATIONS WERE LOCATED IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO PERMIT FLUID LEAKAGE AND INTRODUCTION OF AIR INTO THE CYLINDER. THE CAUSE OF THE INDENTATIONS WAS NOT DETERMINED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,280 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 242 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 145 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-WB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gapway Groves, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GIF Winter Haven FL at 1:05 pm
- Destination: CRW Buckhannon WV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 3,100 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:00 pm from SAV, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N3707N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.