- Date
- March 29, 1986, 16:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- Portage, WI
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N29849Cessna 177
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 13308
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Loss of engine power
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Loss of control - in flight
Stall - inadvertentCause
Aircraft handling - improperCause
In flight collision with terrain/water
Analysis
Several witnesses stated that upon climbout following a low pass, smoke came out of the engine and the engine sputtered. The aircraft was then seen in a steep turn. During this turn the wings reached a vertical position and the aircraft descended to the surface of a frozen lake. It subsequently sank below the ice. The last turn occurred at approximately 250 feet AGL. The cause of the reported loss of power could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N29849
- Reported as
- Cessna 177
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17700922
- Airframe hours
- 771
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Dean A. Strander
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 4, 1985 · 7 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 23
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 71 total · 6 in this make and model · 36 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 16 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MSN, 27 nm away