# NTSB CHI84FA110: Cessna 177RG, N52697, Salem, OH, February 15, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 15, 1984, 08:01 local (14:01 UTC)
- Place: Salem, OH
- Coordinates: 40.900512, -80.849365 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9005&lon=-80.8494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12386
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84FA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12386/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84FA110

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, takeoff
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT GOT A WEATHER BRIEFING AND WAS ADVISED OF AREAS OF FOG. WHILE TAKING OFF TOWARD THE WEST, HE ENCOUNTERED FOG. THE ACFT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE END OF THE RWY & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED ABOUT 1 MI NORTHWEST OF THE ARPT. INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH THE TOPS OF TREES AT APRX 80 FT AGL. THE WX AT A REPORTING STATION ABOUT 24 MI AWAY WAS, IN PART: SKY OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1/8 MI WITH FOG. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE, THE WX AT THE DEPARTURE ARPT WAS ABOUT THE SAME. THE WX AT THE ARPT WAS CHECKED THE NEXT MORNING AT THE SAME TIME OF DAY & IT WAS NOTED THAT THE FOG WAS HEAVIEST AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE TAKEOFF RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52697](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52697-1984-12-21), registration cancelled 1984-12-21, S/N 177RG1253 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 177RG1253
- Airframe hours: 1414
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Harold W. Wurster
- Registered owner: Avion Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 2, 1983, 368 hours before
- Departed: 38D, SALEM, OH
- Destination: OSU, COLUMBIA, OH
- Airport: 38D, Salem, runway 27

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 76 total, 15 in this make and model, 28 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Wind: 330° at 3 knots
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: YNG

## 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 19840215003329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840215003329A), Feb 15, 1984: Cessna 177RG, Salem, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot departed airport in heavy fog conditions. Aircraft crashed one mile nw of airport in dense wooded area.

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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