Grumman AA-5A accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, October 1, 1988
On October 1, 1988 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Grumman AA-5A, registered N26827, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina (Ridgeland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was 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
- October 1, 1988 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgeland, South Carolina · Ridgeland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5A
- Registration
- N26827 · no longer on the register · serial AA5A0746
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE FAILED TO FUNCTION DURING TAXI WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE SPEED AND TURN 180 DEG INTO T/O POSITION. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO TRACK TO THE RIGHT. HE RELEASED BRAKE PRESSURE ON BOTH PEDALS THINKING THAT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE RUDDER PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. HE THEN REAPPLIED PRESSURE AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME RESULTS. AT THAT POINT, HE REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY. TRAVELED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, AND FLIPPED OVER. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED A HOLE IN THE LEFT BRAKE-SYSTEM PRESSURE LINE BEHIND THE CO-PLT BRAKE PEDALS. THE HOLE HAD RESULTED FROM CHAFING BETWEEN A MOUNTING CLAMP & THE LINE. THE LINE & CLAMP WERE PROPERLY INSTALLED. THE HOLE WAS NOT VISIBLE UNTIL THE CLAMP WAS REMOVED. CORROSION WAS ALSO NOTED ON THE LINE IN THE AREA OF THE HOLE. A SEARCH OF FAA SDR'S REVEALED NO REPORTS OF SIMILAR 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: 322 hours in all; 104 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 171 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 938 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1988; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ABY Albany GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 3,100 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.