Cessna 172D accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, June 6, 1993
On June 6, 1993 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N50000, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina. 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 IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS WERE THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE SOFT TERRAIN AT THE FORCED LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1993 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgeland, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N50000 · registry record · serial 17250145
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS AT THE COMPLETION OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ABOUT 11 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE SLOWLY LOST POWER, DROPPING TO ABOUT 1,800 RPM. HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, CHECKED THE TANKS, AND APPLIED FULL THROTTLE. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, HE FORCE LANDED IN A LANDFILL. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER IN SOFT TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT. THE CARBURETOR HEAT KNOB WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE WING TANKS CONTAINED FUEL. THE FUEL LINES AND VENTS WERE NOT OBSTRUCTED. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN AFTER THE ACCIDENT, NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE, ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS
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: 950 hours in all; 940 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 920 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,598 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1992; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AND Anderson SC at 12:00 pm
- Destination: 49J Hilton Head Is. SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from 49J, 15 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.