# NTSB ATL93LA088: Extra 300, N694DM, Ridge Springs, SC, May 6, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 6, 1993, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place: Ridge Springs, SC
- Coordinates: 33.840843, -81.659927 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8408&lon=-81.6599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3206
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3206/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA088

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO DETERMINE THE LANDING DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR A LANDING ON A WET SOD RUNWAY, WHICH RESULTED IN THE OVERRUN OF THE LANDING AREA AND THE COLLISION WITH A TREE

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - performance data - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE GRASS STRIP WAS WET, AND DURING THE  ATTEMPTED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE 1700 FOOT RUNWAY AT HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT AT THE NORMAL APPROACH AIRSPEED AND THE NORMAL TOUCHDOWN POINT, IT REQUIRES ABOUT 1500 FEET OF RUNWAY SURFACE TO COMPLETE A SAFE LANDING AND ROLL OUT. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIRPLANE, NOR DID THE PILOT DETERMINE THE LANDING DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR A LANDING ON A WET SOD RUNWAY

## Factual narrative

On May 6, 1993, at 0830 eastern daylight time, an Extra 300, N694DM, collided with a tree on a private airstrip near Ridge Springs, South Carolina. The local personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercially rated pilot, with private single engine land privileges, received serious injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Trenton, South Carolina, at approximately 0800 hours.

According to the pilot, he departed Trenton en route to Barnsville, South Carolina, but encountered weather conditions and decided to divert to his airstrip in Ridge Springs. Reportedly, he established a 90 knot approach speed and touched down on his normal spot. After landing the pilot experienced difficulty stopping the airplane on the water soaked sod runway. The airplane rolled off the departure end of the east runway and collided with a tree. According to the pilot, the normal landing  distance for this airplane is 1500 feet; the pilot did not report computing  the required landing distance for a landing on the wet sod runway. No mechanical problems were reported.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N694DM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: EXTRA 300
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 033
- Airframe hours: 131
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-L1B5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Rutland,Guy E.
- Registered owner: Rutland,Guy E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 12, 1993, 46 hours before
- Departed: 6J6, TRENTON, SC
- Airport: NONE, Rutland, runway 1, 1,700 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 9,966 total, 45 in this make and model, 9,851 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CAE, 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 19930506012439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930506012439A), May 6, 1993: Rhnflu EXTRA300, Ridge Springs, SC, Substantial damage. Landed on short wet grass runway. Unable to stop ran off end into a tree.

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.

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