# NTSB CHI90DEP06: Cessna 177B, N30666, Iola, WI, July 6, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: July 6, 1990, 16:53 local (21:53 UTC)
- Place: Iola, WI
- Coordinates: 44.500946, -89.120635 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5009&lon=-89.1206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14479
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90DEP06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14479/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90DEP06

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/SPIN.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH, AND HIS FAILURE TO GO AROUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 4 AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 2000 FT AGL. AT ABOUT THE MID-FIELD POINT, THE POWER WAS REDUCED. A WITNESS RPRTD THE ACFT WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND & THE PLT INITIATED A LEFT TURN TO SPIRAL DOWN. DURING THE SPIRAL, POWER WAS INCREASED AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SPIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASHED ABOUT 150 YARDS SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 4.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30666](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30666-1991-11-12), registration cancelled 1991-11-12, S/N 17701393 (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: 17701393
- Airframe hours: 3115
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bestul, David D.
- Registered owner: Community Insurance
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1989, 31 hours before
- Departed: CLI, CLINTONVILLE, WI
- Airport: 68C, Central County, runway 4, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 685 total, 507 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATW, 25 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 19900706024379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900706024379A), Jul 6, 1990: Cessna 177B, Iola, WI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Too high on downwind for landing. Stalled and spun into a marsh while attempting a 360 to lose altitude.

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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