Cessna 177A accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, August 22, 1988
On August 22, 1988 at about 11:12 pm local time, a Cessna 177A, registered N30335, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- August 22, 1988 · about 11:12 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgeland, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177A · all 177As on the register
- Registration
- N30335 · no longer on the register · serial 17701201
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE POWER LOSS ABOUT FOUR HOURS AFTER DEPARTING POMPANO BEACH. THE PILOT HAD VARIED HIS ALTITUDE THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT MANUAL INDICATES THAT THE ACFT COULD FLY ABOUT 3.8 HOURS, AT 2500 FEET ALTITUDE, ON 48 GALLONS OF FUEL WITH NO FUEL RESERVE, AND LEAN MIXTURE. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT LEANING THE FUEL MIXTURE AT ANY POINT DURING THE FLIGHT. THERE WERE NO REPORTED AIRCRAFT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: 90 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 48 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1988; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PMP Pompano Beach FL at 7:10 pm
- Destination: RBW Walterboro SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 006° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from SAV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.