# Accident 20030314008059A: Cessna 177, Old Fort, NC, March 14, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 14, 2003, 12:50 local time
- Place: Old Fort, NC
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.6192° N, 82.2553° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6192&lon=-82.2553&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3275T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3275T-2013-04-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 177 (registry code 2073704, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 534 total, 238 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL03FA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA061) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030314008059A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MARCH 14TH, 2003, AT 1250 EST, A PRIVATE PILOT, REGISTERED OWNER OF A CESSNA 177, N3275T, COLLIDED WITH TREES AND RISING TERRAIN AT KITSUMA PEAK, NEAR OLD FORT, NORTH CAROLINA. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE CRASH, N3275T DEPARTED ASHVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA UNDER VFR (VISUAL FLIGHT RULES). THE FLIGHT THEN CONTINUED INTO WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH REQUIRES OPERATION UNDER IFR CONDITIONS (INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES). THE WEATHER CONDITION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS PUBLISHED AS, "2500 FEET OVERCAST", THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AT, "2900 FEET". ADDITIONALLY, THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CARRIAGE OF SUBSTANTIALLY MORE BAGGAGE WEIGHT IN THE AFT PORTION OF THE AIRCRAFT THAN CERTIFICATION STANDARDS PERMIT.^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## 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 ATL03FA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA061), Mar 14, 2003: Cessna 177 (N3275T), Old Fort, NC, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into IMC and his failure to maintain terrain clearance which resulted in an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain.

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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