Piper PA-28-181 accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, August 22, 1983
On August 22, 1983 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2531U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina (Ridgeland Muni. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- August 22, 1983 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgeland, South Carolina · Ridgeland Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2531U · registry record · serial 28-8090052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT OVERRAN THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH DURING LANDING. THE WEATHER WAS VMC WITH THE WINDS LIGHT AND VARIABLETHE PILOT SAID HE FOUND HIMSELF HIGH AS HE CROSSED THE RWY THRESHOLD. THE ACFT REPORTEDLY FLOATED BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT USED MAXIMUM BRAKING AFTER LANDING BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY TOLD THE ARPT MGR THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRPLANE BUT HE MISJUDGED THE APPROACH AND OVERSHOT THE RWY.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 135 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 89 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,425 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1983; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISM Kissimmee FL at 6:10 pm
- Destination: 3J1
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,100 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:48 pm from SAV, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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 N2531U 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.