Cessna 177RG accident near Barnwell, South Carolina, April 8, 1989
On April 8, 1989 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N7504V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Barnwell, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION IN CONTINUING FLIGHT TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WITHOUT REFUELING WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. UNFAVORABLE WINDS AND INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1989 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Barnwell, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N7504V · registry record · serial 177RG-0803
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS AT 4000 FEET IN CRUISE WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD FLIPPING OVER AFTER THE NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO SOFT DIRT. TWO FACTORS PRESENT WERE STRONG WINDS ALOFT AND INACCURATE FUEL INDICATING SYSTEM. THE RIGHT FLOAT WHEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK SHOWED TWO NEEDLE WIDTH OF FUEL REMAINING. THE PILOT ALLOWED ONE TANK TO GO EMPTY AND RELIED ON THE RIGHT TANK INDICATION OF LESS THEN ONE QUARTER FULL. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN ENROUTE FOR 4 HOURS AND 22 MINUTES AND WAS 78 STATUTE MILES FROM DESTINATION. THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FUEL TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT WITH AN IFR RESERVE WITH THE FUEL INDICATED. THE PILOT HAD PLANNED FOR A 4 HOUR FLIGHT WITH 5.5 HOURS OF FUEL ON BOARD.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 788 hours in all; 298 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,479 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 1988; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSU Columbus OH at 1:15 pm
- Destination: SAV Savannah GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL89LA128.