# NTSB FTW85LA134: Cessna 177, N29460, Houston, TX, March 3, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 3, 1985, 16:01 local (22:01 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 30.089841, -95.609565 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0898&lon=-95.6096&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21685
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21685/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA134

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - mixture control,linkage - separation (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, takeoff - initial climb
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command(cfi)
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER THE FOURTH TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING ON RWY 17R POWER WAS APPLIED AND A NORMAL CLIMB INIIATED.  AT ABOUT 400 FT AGL POWER WAS REDUCED; THE ENGINE DEVELOPED HEAVY VIBRATIONS AND APRX 50% POWER LOSS. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL FROM THE PRIVATE PLT RECEIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION AND INITIALLY TURNED RIGHT FOLLOWED BY A LEFT DOWNWIND TURN. AT 45-60 DEGREES ANGLE-OF-BANK THE ACFT TURNED APRX 190 DEGREES IN AN EFFORT TO LAND ON RWY 35L. ACCORDING TO THE CFI THE ACFT STALLED AND CONTACTED THE GROUND LEFT WING FIRST. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT CONTINUITY IN THE MIXTURE CONTROL SYSTEM DID NOT EXIST. NO ATTACKING HARDWARE THAT WOULD CONNECT THE MIXTURE LINKAGE TO THE CARBURETOR WAS INSTALLED BY THE OPERATOR 13.8 FLT HOURS AD 35 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. WIND AT THE TIME OF THE FORCED LANDING WAS FORM 180 DEGREES AT 18 GUSTING TO 28 KTS. AFTER RE-RIGGING THE MIXTURE CONTROL LINKAGE AND REPAIRING IMPACT ENGINE DAMAGE THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY TEST-RUN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N29460 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17700902
- Airframe hours: 3273
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Champion Aviation Inc
- Registered owner: Ronald L. Crouse
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 27, 1985, 14 hours before
- Airport: DWH, David W. Hooks Memorial, runway 35, 7,000 × 110 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 910 total, 28 in this make and model, 861 as pilot in command, 132 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 18 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DWH

## 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 19850303005059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850303005059A), Mar 3, 1985: Cessna 177, Tomball, TX, Substantial damage. Engine lost power after takeoff, aircraft stalled in turn. Hardware attaching mixture control to carburetor missing

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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