FTW83LA215

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 177B · Port Aransas, TX · May 2, 1983

Accident · FatalLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 1, 1983, 20:50 local (May 2, 1983, 01:50 UTC)
Place
Port Aransas, TX
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N34581Cessna 177B
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830501018739A
Case key
20887

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.

In flight encounter with weatherDescent
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandFactor
Overconfidence in personal abilityPilot in commandFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterCruise
DelayedPilot in commandFactor
Fluid,fuel - low levelFactor
Proper altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - water,roughFactor

Analysis

During a wx briefing, the non-instrument rated plt was told to expect no significant en route wx, but was advised of lower ceilings along the coastline, later that night. There were no records of en route wx briefings. When the acft was about 40 mi northwest of the destination, the plt contacted corpus christi apch control & was advised of IFR wx in the vicinity. He requested & was provided radar vectors to his destination, but was unsuccessful in finding the arpt. The plt then reported that he was 'unable to get down' & requested vectors to corpus christi. He was again advised of IFR conditions at corpus christi. When asked if he could fly an IFR apch, he gave a negative reply. He also reported that he was in IFR conditions & had insufficient fuel to fly to san antonio. Subsequently, radar contact was lost aprx 2 mi southeast of the arpt. Later, both occupants & acft debris were found where the had washed on or near the shore form the gulf of Mexico.

Aircraft

Registration
N34581
Reported as
Cessna 177B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17701886
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A1F6, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Bill Murray & Loil Ballentine
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
SJT · San Angelo, TX
Airport
2R8 · Mustang Beach, runway 30, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

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
47
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
475 total · 100 in this make and model · 400 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
170° at 20 knots, gusting 26
Visibility
3 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
700 ft overcast
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
NGP, 13 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.