# Accident 20180930025279A: Cessna 177RG, La Verne, CA, September 30, 2018 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 30, 2018, 17:47 local time - Place: La Verne, CA - Airport: Brackett Field Airport - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 34.0933° N, 117.7917° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0933&lon=-117.7917&mi=10 - Aircraft: N46321, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46321-2020-06-10) (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: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 1 - Other injuries: 1 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR18FA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA279) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180930025279A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2018, ABOUT 1800 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 177RG, N46321, CRASHED IN TO NEARBY NURSERY FOLLOWING A REPORTED ENGINE ISSUE DURING TAKEOFF FROM THE BRACKETT FIELD AIRPORT, LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT IN THE RIGHT SEAT WAS FATALLY INJURED, THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PARTY UNDER PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE WITNESSES, THE AIRPLANE BACKFIRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE OR DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND STATED ENGINE TROUBLE. B RACKETT TOWER CLEARED THE PILOT FOR A RIGHT TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. DURING THE RIGHT TURN THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST UPRIGHT ON A HEADING OF NORTHEAST, ABOUT 400 FEET NORTH OF THE RIGHT SIDE, AND ABOUT 1500 FEET FROM THE END OF RUNWAY 26R. THERE WAS NO POST IMPACT FIRE. THE WRECKAGE WAS RECOVERED TO A SECURE LOCATION FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. THE LEFT SEAT PILOT, AGE 39, HELD AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT CERTIFICATE AND THE AIRCRAFT OWNER IN RIGHT-SEAT, AGE 69, HELD A COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE. BOTH HAD CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATES. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE NOSE GEAR WAS DETACHED AND PUSHED AFT. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS PARTIALLY RETRACTED. THE FUSELAGE WAS DAMAGED FROM THE NOSE TO THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEEL WELLS. THE VERTICAL FIN, THE RUDDER, AND BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT STABILIZERS WERE NOT DAMAGED. THE WINGS WERE DAMAGED, REMAINED INTACT BUT PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE OUTER PORTION OF THE LEFT WING, FROM THE WING TIP TO END OF THE FLAPS WAS BENT UP AND OVER THE INNER PORTION OF THE WING. THE LEFT FLAP SHOWN DISTORTION AND WRINKLING. THE RIGHT-WING LEADING EDGE SHOWED A LARGE DENT 1 FT 6 INCHES FROM THE WING ROOT. THE RIGHT-WING TIP 12 FT 6 INCHES FROM THE ROOT AND RUNNING FROM THE LEADING EDGE TO HALF WAY TO THE AILERONS WAS DAMAGED AND BENT UNDERNEATH THE WING. THE ENTIRE WING ASSEMBLY WAS CRUSHED DOWN TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE NACELLE WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED FROM UNDERNEATH WITH CRUSHING OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT UP TO THE ENGINE EXHAUST PIPES. THE THREE-BLADE PROPELLER DISPLAYED DAMAGE TO ALL THREE BLADES WITH TWISTING AND CHORD WISE PATTERNS. ONE BLADE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE CONSTANT SPEED HUB. THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY VISIBLE PROBLEMS. NO POST IMPACT FIRE, NO OIL LEAKS. THE TOP SPARK PLUGS DISPLAYED NORMAL UNIFORM COLOR AND NO MECHANICAL DAMAGE. COULD NOT GET TO THE BACK OR BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE NACELLE. WILL AMEND WHEN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. ## 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 WPR18FA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA279), Sep 30, 2018: Cessna 177RG (N46321), La Verne, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control.… ## Other reports on N46321 (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19800228030259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800228030259I), Feb 28, 1980: Cessna 177RG (N46321), Big Bear, CA, Minor damage. Failed to extend gear on instructional checkout flight. - [Incident 19790805029359I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790805029359I), Aug 5, 1979: Cessna 177RG (N46321), Santa Maria, CA, Minor damage. Unable to restore power to engine after reduction. Throttle control cable bolts had fallen out. 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.