What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 08/08/2016 a Cessna 177 N30923 serial number 17701548 after reported getting topped off with fuel departed sidney municiple airport (N23)under VMC conditions to the north west with one pilot and three passengers on board. Approximately 21 miles north west of N23 the pilot began circling a religous center so the passengers could take pictures. The pilot reported he circled 3 or 4 times at slow speed (80) knots with full flaps and noticed the aircraft was a little low (about 30 to 50 ft above tree tops)the pilot then reported he attempted to climb and retracted the flaps to zero and doesnt remember applying full power. The aircraft failed to climb then pitched in a nosed down attitude and crash landed into a dense wooded area. All occupants were able to exit the aircraft before the aircraft caught fire and was destroyed. All occupants were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The pilot reported he doesnt recall the aircraft having any mechanical issues.
As the FAA filed it
ON 08/08/2016 A CESSNA 177 N30923 SERIAL NUMBER 17701548 AFTER REPORTED GETTING TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL DEPARTED SIDNEY MUNICIPLE AIRPORT (N23)UNDER VMC CONDITIONS TO THE NORTH WEST WITH ONE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS ON BOARD. APPROXIMATELY 21 MILES NORTH WEST OF N23 THE PILOT BEGAN CIRCLING A RELIGOUS CENTER SO THE PASSENGERS COULD TAKE PICTURES. THE PILOT REPORTED HE CIRCLED 3 OR 4 TIMES AT SLOW SPEED (80) KNOTS WITH FULL FLAPS AND NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT WAS A LITTLE LOW (ABOUT 30 TO 50 FT ABOVE TREE TOPS)THE PILOT THEN REPORTED HE ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB AND RETRACTED THE FLAPS TO ZERO AND DOESNT REMEMBER APPLYING FULL POWER. THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO CLIMB THEN PITCHED IN A NOSED DOWN ATTITUDE AND CRASH LANDED INTO A DENSE WOODED AREA. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WITH MINOR INJURIES. THE PILOT REPORTED HE DOESNT RECALL THE AIRCRAFT HAVING ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.