Cessna 177RG N8034G

Summary

On 22 May 2003 at about 21:55 local time, a Cessna 177RG registered N8034G was involved in an accident near Ely, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 May 2003 at 21:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Ely, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Ely Airport (Yelland Field) (ELY)

Coordinates

40.0761, -114.5878

Aircraft

Cessna 177RG

Registration

N8034G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Yuma → Jackpot

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX03FA161

2 people died.

the airplane collided with terrain for undetermined reasons.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with flat open desert terrain during a cross-country flight. The airplane had been en route 3.8 hours on a 560-nautical mile (nm) trip when the accident occurred. There were no eye witnesses to the accident sequence. Extraction of the recorded track memory from a handheld GPS receiver that was found in the wreckage was performed. Review of that track data disclosed that the airplane flew a straight northerly track consistent with the pilot's likely planned course until it crossed over the intersection of two major interstate highways and in the immediate vicinity of a gravel road very near the eventual crash site. The airplane then turned 180 degrees and flew south about a mile where it crossed the east/west highway, then turned back north. The airplane tracked in a northerly direction about 1 mile before doing a 360-degree turn. The airplane then tracked to the north east paralleling the east/west highway, then turned right to cross the highway perpendicular to it. Once on the south side of the highway, the airplane turned southwesterly as if to parallel the highway. The track ended at this point at the coordinates of the accident site. The main wreckage, which consisted of the whole airplane, sustained substantial vertical crush damage and ground scars began about 55 feet from where it came to rest in an upright attitude. The landing gear and wing flaps were in the retracted position and the propeller displayed evidence consistent with moderate power being developed by the engine. The fuel selector was in the "ON" position and about 6 gallons of fuel was drained from the left wing. During detailed post-accident wreckage examinations, investigators found no evidence of premishap mechanical malfunctions with the engine and airframe.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.