# Accident 20010105001699A: Cessna 177RG, Loma Alta, TX, January 5, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: January 5, 2001, 17:01 local time - Place: Loma Alta, TX - Airport: Wardlew White Ranch - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 30.0000° N, 100.0000° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0000&lon=-100.0000&mi=10 - Aircraft: N45373, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45373-2012-11-09) (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 - People aboard: 3 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 1,692 total, 1,310 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW01LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA046) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010105001699A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) ON JANUARY 5, 2001, AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 HRS., A CESSNA 177RG OWNED AND OPERATED BY^PRIVACY DATA OMITT^,CRASHED AFTER STRIKING A TREE WITH HIS LEFT WING JUST AFTER TAKE OFF. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A PRIVATE RANCH APPROX. 15 MILES NW OF LOMA ALTA, TEXAS (OR APPROXIMATELY 50 NAUTICAL MILES NORTH OF DEL RIO, TX.) (.4)ON JANUARY 5, 2001, AT 1701 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 177RG, SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE, N45373, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE LEFT WING STRUCK TREES DURING THE TAKEOFF/INITIAL CLIMB FROM THE WARDLAW WHITE RANCH, NEAR DEL RIO, TEXAS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL UNDER 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. NEITHER THE PRIVATE PILOT NOR HIS TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PLANNED CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT TO THE ANGLETON/LAKE JACKSON BRAZORIA COUNTY AIRPORT, BETWEEN ANGLETON AND LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PRIVATE RANCH GRAVEL AIRSTRIP ( APPROXIMATELY 1,850 FEET LONG AND 60 FEET WIDE) WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 40 NAUTICAL MILES NORTH OF DEL RIO, TEXAS. EARLIER THAT DAY, THE PILOT HAD MADE HIS FIRST LANDING AT THE AIRSTRIP WHEN HE AND HIS PASSENGERS ARRIVED FROM LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS. LATER THAT DAY THE GROUP PLANNED TO DEPART THE RANCH AND RETURN TO LAKE JACKSON. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL TO THE NORTHWEST, THE AIRPLANE HAD LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY AND TRAVELED ALONG THE GROUND WHEN THE LEFT WING "WAS SUDDENLY HIT BY WIND SHEAR CAUSING THE LEFT WING TO GO DOWN AND AIRCRAFT DRIFT TO THE LEFT SUDDENLY." THE LEFT WING STRUCK A CEDAR BUSH. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK MESQUITE BRUSH, AND SPUN AROUND APPROXIMATELY 20-30 DEGREES. THE PILOT PULLED AFT ON THE YOKE AND PULLED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST UPRIGHT IN A RAVINE. THE PILOT REPORTED CLEAR SKIES WITH THE WIND FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 10 KNOTS, AND A TEMPERATURE OF 55 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE FAA INSPECTOR, WHO RESPONDED TO THE SITE, FOUND THAT CEDAR BARK AND LIMBS WERE MISSING FROM ONE TREE AND NUMEROUS BRANCHES WERE MISSING FROM THE MESQUITE BRUSH. THE AIRPLANE W AS RESTING NOSE DOWN IN THE RAVINE. THE FAA INSPECTOR FOUND THE OUTBOARD THREE FEET OF THE LEFT WING DESTROYED, BOTH HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS CRUSHED AFT, AND THE FUSELAGE TWISTED. ## 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 FTW01LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA046), Jan 5, 2001: Cessna 177RG (N45373), Del Rio, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the winds. A factor was the windshear. ## Other reports on N45373 (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19861114078569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861114078569I), Nov 14, 1986: Cessna 177RG (N45373), Gallatin, TN, Minor damage. Aircraft landed with gear retracted. Pilot was counseled on checklist use and distraction avoidance. - [Incident 19831009067449I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831009067449I), Oct 9, 1983: Cessna 177RG (N45373), Memphis, TN, Minor damage. Given a change of runway on short notice forgot the 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. --- 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.