Waco ASO accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, November 18, 1995
On November 18, 1995 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Waco ASO, registered N950E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina (Ridgeland Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the ignition system after takeoff, which resulted the loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1995 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgeland, South Carolina · Ridgeland Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco ASO · all ASOs on the register
- Registration
- N950E · registry record · serial 142
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After climbing approximately 300 feet after takeoff, the aircraft's engine stopped producing power. The pilot stated that he lowered the nose and banked the aircraft back toward the runway. He attempted to align the aircraft with a runway, but was unable. Subsequently, the aircraft slid off the side of the runway, went down a dirt embankment, and nosed over. Postcrash examination of the aircraft disclosed the ignition system was producing a weak spark.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,835 hours in all; 541 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 3,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,085 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1995; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,100 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from CAE, 15 miles away
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.