# Accident 20230426013849A: Cessna 177B, Watinsville, GA, April 26, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 26, 2023, 14:28 local time
- Place: Watinsville, GA
- Airport: Winder-Barrow
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8774° N, 83.4234° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8774&lon=-83.4234&mi=10
- Aircraft: N123DS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N123DS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 177B (registry code 2073708, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 870 total, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23FA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA209) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230426013849A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 26, 2023, APPROXIMATELY 14:28, CESSNA 177 AIRCRAFT WAS GIVING VECTORS FOR THE RNAV 31 APPROACH FOR WINDER AIRPORT IN WATINSVILLE, GEORGIA. AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND FROM 6000 FEET DOWN TO 4000 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DESEND WAS TOLD TO TURN RIGHT TO A HEADING OF 23O DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUE TO DESCEND BELOW 4000 FEET, ATC THEN TOLD THE PILOT TO LEVEL OFF AT 3000 FEET AND PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED. RADAR AND COMM WAS LOST AND WAS UNABLE TO REESTABLISH COMM. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED IN A FIELD APPROXIMATLEY 117 DEGREES / 13.5

NM. FROM ATHENS, GA.

## 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 ERA23FA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA209), Apr 26, 2023: Cessna 177B (N123DS), Watkinsville, GA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control, which resulted in an in-flight overload separation of the right wing during the uncontrolled descent.

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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