- Date
- May 26, 1990, 09:05 local (13:05 UTC)
- Place
- Canton, GA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2979XCessna 177
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 14, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900526017399A
- Case key
- 8133
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The intentional flight into instrument meteorological conditions by the non-instrument rated pilot.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The private non-instrument rated pilot was attempting an IFR flight. According to witnesses there was a cloud layer in the area which began at about 5000 feet MSL, and the visibility was restricted due to haze. The pilot stated that he was having difficulty maintaining a level attitude. Radar data showed that the airplane made several erratic climbs and descents which began at about 6200 feet and continued down until radar contact was lost. Witnesses in the area of the accident reported that the airplane made several erratic climbs and descents after breaking out of the cloud layer. The stabilator trim was found to be in the full nose up position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2979X
- Reported as
- Cessna 177
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17700379
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Louis S. Torcivia
- Departed
- 8A4 · Marietta, GA
- Destination
- PSK · Dublin, VA
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 511 total · 43 in this make and model · 385 as pilot in command · 27 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 63 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.