Amateur-built 300 accident near Ridge Springs, South Carolina, May 6, 1993
On May 6, 1993 at about 12:30 pm local time, a amateur-built 300, registered N694DM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ridge Springs, South Carolina (Rutland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO DETERMINE THE LANDING DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR A LANDING ON A WET SOD RUNWAY, WHICH RESULTED IN THE OVERRUN OF THE LANDING AREA AND THE COLLISION WITH A TREE
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1993 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ridge Springs, South Carolina · Rutland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 300
- Registration
- N694DM · registry record · serial 033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE GRASS STRIP WAS WET, AND DURING THE ATTEMPTED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE 1700 FOOT RUNWAY AT HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT AT THE NORMAL APPROACH AIRSPEED AND THE NORMAL TOUCHDOWN POINT, IT REQUIRES ABOUT 1500 FEET OF RUNWAY SURFACE TO COMPLETE A SAFE LANDING AND ROLL OUT. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIRPLANE, NOR DID THE PILOT DETERMINE THE LANDING DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR A LANDING ON A WET SOD RUNWAY
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,966 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 9,851 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 131 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 12, 1993; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,095 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-L1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6J6 Trenton SC at 11:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 1,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from CAE, 25 miles away
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.