# NTSB ATL88LA135: Cessna 177RG, N46316, Briceville, TN, April 7, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 1988, 09:55 local (13:55 UTC)
- Place: Briceville, TN
- Coordinates: 36.159641, -84.300842 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1596&lon=-84.3008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7734
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7734/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA135

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - blind/box canyon (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD DEPARTED COFFEYVILLE, KS ON APR 5 FOR AN AIRPLANE DELIVERY FERRY FLT TO LINCOLNTON, NC HE LANDED AT CAPE GIRARDEAU AND REMAINED OVERNIGHT DUE TO ENROUTE WEATHER. HE DEPTD CGI THE FOLLOWING MORNING FOLLOWING A WX BRIEF THAT INDICATED MARGINAL CONDITIONS IN THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE FLT. AFTER AN UPDATE, HE ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB OVER THE REPTD CLOUD TOPS OF 15,000 FT. AT 14,000 HE NOTED THE CLOUDS STILL ABOVE AND ELECTED TO FLY BETWEEN LAYERS. AFTER ENCOUNTERING A SOLID CLOUDBANK, HE FOUND A HOLE AND DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS. THE CLOUD BASES KEPT GETTING LOWER. AFTER ENTERING A VALLEY AND WHILE FLYING UP THE VALLEY, HE NOTED THE TREES WERE IN THE CLOUDS ALL AROUND. HE ENTERED A CLIMB AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AT 3,500 FT MSL. VFR MIN ALTITUDE FOR THE AREA WAS 3,900 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N46316](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46316-2012-11-27), registration cancelled 2012-11-27, S/N 177RG1128, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 177RG1128
- Airframe hours: 1548
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Dave L. Nicoll
- Registered owner: Dave L Nicoll
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1987, 17 hours before
- Departed: CGI, CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO
- Destination: 5N4, LINCOLNTON, NC
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 429 total, 5 in this make and model, 258 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 225° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19880407008209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880407008209A), Apr 7, 1988: Cessna 177RG, Briceville, TN, Destroyed. Collided with trees while flying over hilly terrain in low clouds. Instruement ticket not current.

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.

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