Cessna 177 accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, December 19, 2017
On December 19, 2017 at about 9:58 pm local time, a 1967 Cessna 177, registered N3179T, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Ridgeland, South Carolina (Ridgeland airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s improper control inputs, which resulted in a loss of control on takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 19, 2017 · about 9:58 pm local time
- Place
- Ridgeland, South Carolina · Ridgeland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 UNDESIGNAT, built 1967 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3179T · no longer on the register · serial 17700479
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor stated that the student pilot was performing a takeoff while the flight instructor gently held the control wheel with both hands. The student pilot had his left hand on the control wheel and his right hand on the throttle as the airplane accelerated down the runway. When the airspeed reached 65 knots, the student pilot initiated a climb, but the airplane began to pull to the left; this airplane has an inherent tendency to turn left during takeoff. The flight instructor tried to take control of the airplane, but the student pilot continued to hold the control wheel and throttle. The flight instructor had good aileron and elevator control as he tried to maneuver away from the approaching hangars and maintain airspeed; however, he could not recall if the rudder pedals moved when he pushed them. The airplane continued left, touched down momentarily, then bounced back in the air. The flight instructor realized the airplane was not going to clear the hangars, so he shut off the engine with the mixture control. The airplane struck a hangar with the left wing, pivoted, and struck another hangar with its right wing before coming to a stop; the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The student pilot stated that he remembered adding full power to takeoff and then initiating a climb at 70 knots. He did not remember what happened after that except that they had “no rudder control” and could not maintain the runway centerline. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s flight controls revealed continuity for each control, including the rudder, and no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions were identified that would have precluded normal operation. Because the flight instructor did not recall if the rudder pedals moved when he tried to press on them and the student pilot never let go of the throttle or control wheel, the student pilot likely had his feet on the rudder pedals, which impeded the instructor from taking full control of the airplane and resulted in the loss of control.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Residence/building › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 525 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 11, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3J1 Ridgeland SC at 9:58 pm
- Destination: TBR Statesboro GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,692 ft by 70 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from NBC, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on December 21, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - CFI | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | CFI and Student Written Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.