Cessna 177 N34207

Summary

On 10 May 2017 at about 08:30 local time, a Cessna 177 registered N34207 was involved in an accident near Frankston, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 May 2017 at 08:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Frankston, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Aero Estates (T25)

Coordinates

32.0817, -95.4525

Aircraft

Cessna 177

Registration

N34207

Category

Airplane

Year built

1972

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mineola → Frankston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA274

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s loss of runway visibility during landing in rain, which resulted in the pilot’s loss of situational awareness and subsequent loss of airplane control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he made an approach to a grass airstrip in light rain conditions with mist. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a rain shower, and the pilot's visibility was obscured. The pilot began the landing, but he lost sight of the runway. The airplane touched down left of the runway centerline and veered off the left side of the runway. He recalled that "by the time I was aware of my position it was not possible to correct," and the airplane impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wing spars and engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.