# Accident 20000426037389A: Cessna 177RG, Watertown, SD, April 26, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 26, 2000, 21:55 local time
- Place: Watertown, SD
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: P74A
- Location: 44.9095° N, 97.1593° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9095&lon=-97.1593&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1978Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1978Q-2002-09-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 177RG (registry code 2073709, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (registry code 41593, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI00FA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00FA123) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000426037389A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AT 2155 CDST ON 4/26/00, N1978Q, A CESSNA 177RG FLOWN BY ZANE WILLIAM PURCELLA OPERATED BY PRIORITY AIR OF WATERTOWN, S.D., CRASHED APPROX. EIGHT MILES SOUTH OF THE WATERTOWN AIRPORT (ATY). N1978Q WAS ENROUTE FROM SIOUX FALLS, S.D. TO WATERTOWN, S.D. ON A IFR FLIGHT PLAN. AT 2135 CDST, THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND FROM 6000 FEET MSL TO 4000 FEET MSL. AT 2154 CDST ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT N1978Q WERE MADE WITH NO RESPONSE. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST NEAR OUTER MARKER FOR RUNWAY 35 AT THE WATERTOWN AIRPORT (ATY).

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI00FA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00FA123), Apr 27, 2000: Cessna 177RG (N1978Q), Watertown, SD, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot failed to maintain aircraft control due to spatial disorientation. Factors relating to the accident were the dark night, clouds, and rain.

## Other reports on N1978Q (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19930713039639I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930713039639I), Jul 13, 1993: Cessna 177RG (N1978Q), Joplin, MO, Minor damage. Pilot forgot to lower landing gear. Landed gear up.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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