# NTSB ATL84FA082: Cessna 177B, N2146C, Lafayette, GA, January 15, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 15, 1984, 12:35 local (17:35 UTC)
- Place: Lafayette, GA
- Coordinates: 34.699913, -85.279731 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6999&lon=-85.2797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6246
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6246/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA082

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - ice (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD DURING AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AFTER ENCOUNTERING FORECAST ICING CONDITIONS. THE PLT HAD RECEIVED WEATHER BRIEFINGS AND FILED A FLT PLAN INTO ICING CONDITIONS IN AN ACFT NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE ICING. THE PLT STAYED AT AN ICING LEVEL FOR ABOUT 19 MINUTES, 6 MINUTES OF WHICH WERE WITH HEAVY ICING ACCUMULATING AT THE RATE OF ABOUT 2 INCHES PER MINUTE. AT THIS TIME THE ACFT WAS TOO HEAVY TO CLIMB AND DURING DESCENT, CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE ACFT CRASHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2146C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2146C-1985-07-25), registration cancelled 1985-07-25, S/N 17702741 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B
- Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17702741
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Shinn, Charles M. Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1983, 1,368 hours before
- Departed: CHA, CHATTANOOGA, TN
- Destination: BOW, BARTOW, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,442 total, 1,266 in this make and model, 1,333 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHA, 26 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840115000669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840115000669A), Jan 15, 1984: Cessna 177B, Lafayette, GA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Pilot departed on IFR flight after receiving weather briefing that advised of iceing. Crashed out of control.

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.

---
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.