# Accident 20051214030499A: Cessna 177RG, Clarksburg, CA, December 14, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 14, 2005, 16:52 local time
- Place: Clarksburg, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.3367° N, 121.7061° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3367&lon=-121.7061&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8040G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8040G-2006-06-28) (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
- Reported engine: LYC IO360A1B6
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 23,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX06LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06LA058) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051214030499A

## Narrative

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

(-23) (PRELIM) AT 16:52 HRS PST ON DECEMBER 14, 2005, A CESSNA 177RG, N8040G, IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROX. 1,400' WEST OF A PG&E TRANSMISSION LINE AFTER STRIKING THE WESTWARD MOST STATIC CABLE OF THAT LINE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY POST IMPACT FIRE. THE PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE ACCIDENT WAS WITNESSED BY A CFI, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND A STUDENT WERE ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT FROM OAKLAND, CA TO SACRAMENTO, CA. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT AS THEY STARTED THEIR VFR DESCENT TO SACRAMENTO AT APPROX. 3,500', HIS STUDENT POINTED OUT TRAFFIC BELOW THEM TRAVELING EAST TO WEST. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SAID THE TRAFFIC WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT AND LEVEL AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND A HIGH RATE OF SPEED FOR WHAT HE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WAS A CESSNA 172. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SAID HE LOOKED TOWARD THEIR FLIGHT PATH WHEN A FLASH AND EXPLOSION RETUNED HIS ATTENTION TO WHERE THE LOWER TRAFFIC HAD BEEN. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SAID HE CALLED NORCAL APPROACH AND TURNED TO CIRCLE WHAT HE IDENTIFIED AS AN AIRCRAFT ON FIRE ON THE GROUND. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CIRCLED THE SITE WHILE TALKING TO ATC UNTIL A HELICOPTER ARRIVED. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SAID THE TIME FROM THEIR ID OF TRAFFIC AND THE EXPLOSION WAS APPROX. 5 SEC. AMENDMENTS TO FOLLOW.

## 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 LAX06LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06LA058), Dec 15, 2005: Cessna 177RG (N8040G), Dixon, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's intentional flight at low altitude and failure to maintain obstacle clearance with a high tension static line. The glare from the setting sun was a factor.

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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