Cessna 172F accident near Ravenel, South Carolina, June 5, 1993
On June 5, 1993 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172F, registered N8279U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ravenel, South Carolina (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE CONTINUATION OF THE LANDING ATTEMPT INTO THE SHORT SOD FIELD WITHOUT THE USE OF FLAPS AND THE USE OF EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED BY THE PILOT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT FLAPS TO EXTEND
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1993 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ravenel, South Carolina · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8279U · no longer on the register · serial 17252179
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING ENGINE RUN UP, PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM HIS PRIVATE SOD AIRFIELD, HE OBSERVED BOTH FUEL GAUGES FAIL. HE STATED THAT HE HAD VISUALLY CHECKED HIS FUEL, AND HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR HIS INTENDED FLIGHT. HE CONTINUED WITH THE FLIGHT. DURING HIS PREPARATION FOR LANDING AT THE AIRFIELD, WHEN HE PLACED THE FLAP LEVER TO THE APPROACH POSITION, THE FLAPS WOULD NOT EXTEND. AS HE WAS UNSURE OF HIS FUEL STATUS, HE STATED THAT HE DECIDED TO CONTINUE AND LAND AT THE SHORT SOD FIELD. HE USED A HIGHER THAN NORMAL APPROACH SPEED, AND INTENDED TO USE A ROAD LEADING TO THE AIRSTRIP FOR AN OVERRUN, IF NECESSARY. AFTER LANDING, HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL EITHER THE BRAKES OR THE RUDDER. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN ABANDONED BUS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT STATED THAT FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, HIS FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS HEARD TO COMMENT THAT PRIOR TO THE LANDING, HE HAD BRACED HIMSELF WITH HIS FEET. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER HAD HIS FEET ON THE AIRCRAFT RUDDER PEDALS, WHICH EXPLAINED HIS LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE BRAKES AND RUDDER
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: 150 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 130 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,820 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1993; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 3:15 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from CHS, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.