Cessna 175 accident near Ninety Six, South Carolina, July 7, 1988
On July 7, 1988 at about 11:47 pm local time, a Cessna 175, registered N6509E, was destroyed in an accident near Ninety Six, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 7, 1988 · about 11:47 pm local time
- Place
- Ninety Six, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N6509E · no longer on the register · serial 56009
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CRUISING THE AIRPLANE AT 2,000 FEET AGL WHEN HE NOTED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND INCREASE IN OIL TEMPERATURE. HE ALSO NOTED A LOSS IN ENGINE POWER. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A LANDING OFF AIRPORT AND SET UP A PATTERN FOR THE SELECTED FIELD. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE GROUND DURING THE LANDING APPROACH. THERE WERE OPEN AND LONGER FIELDS AVAILABLE ADJACENT TO THE SELECTED FIELD. THE #1 PISTON WAS BURNED THROUGH AND #5 PISTON SHOWED OVERHEAT. THE PLT INDICATED HE USED 3100 RPM IN CRUISE. THE OWNER MANUAL RECOMMENDS 2400-2900 RPM AT SEA LEVEL AND 2400-3050 RPM AT 5000 FT. THE IGNITION LEAD FOR A #1 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER CONNECTOR.
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: 213 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 182 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 892 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 1987; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 49J Hilton Head SC at 10:30 pm
- Destination: GMU Greenville SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
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.
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.