# NTSB ATL83LA336: Piper PA-28-181, N2531U, Ridgeland, SC, August 22, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 22, 1983, 16:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: Ridgeland, SC
- Coordinates: 32.479923, -80.979789 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4799&lon=-80.9798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6177
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83LA336
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6177/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA336

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT OVERRAN THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH DURING LANDING. THE WEATHER WAS VMC WITH THE WINDS LIGHT AND VARIABLETHE PILOT SAID HE FOUND HIMSELF HIGH AS HE CROSSED THE RWY THRESHOLD. THE ACFT REPORTEDLY FLOATED BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT USED MAXIMUM BRAKING AFTER LANDING BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY TOLD THE ARPT MGR THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRPLANE BUT HE MISJUDGED THE APPROACH AND OVERSHOT THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2531U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8090052
- Airframe hours: 1425
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Queen City Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 1983, 95 hours before
- Departed: ISM, KISSIMMEE, FL
- Destination: 3J1
- Airport: 3J1, Ridgeland Muni., runway 21, 3,100 × 70 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 135 total, 17 in this make and model, 89 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAV, 25 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830822065089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830822065089A), Aug 22, 1983: Piper PA28181, Ridgeland, SC, Substantial damage. Misjudged approach. Touched down halfway down the runway. Ran off end of runway into a deep ditch.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
