# NTSB LAX83FA091: Cessna 177RG, N1547H, Las Vegas, NV, February 6, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 5, 1983, 21:16 local (Feb 6, 1983, 05:16 UTC)
- Place: Las Vegas, NV
- Coordinates: 36.079166, -115.140747 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0792&lon=-115.1407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23421
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA091
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23421/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA091

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A MOUNTAIN DURING A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AT TAKEOFF BUT BECAME IMC LATER NEARTHE MOUNTAINS. A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED BUT NEVER OPENED.THE PILOT CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF KNOWN IMC CONDITIONS. HE HAD RETURNED TO LAS VEGAS ONCE AND ASKED FOR MORE WEATHER BRIEFING. SHORTLY AFTER HIS SECOND DEPARTURE, AT NIGHT HE ASKED FOR ATC HELP FOR SEPARATION THROUGH LAS VEGAS, CA. HE WAS OBSERVED CLIMBING IN HEAVY RAIN. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER AT 1226, HE REPORTED NAVIGATIONAL PROBLEMS. ATC GAVE HIM A HEADING FOR A RETURN. ATC PERSONNEL OBSERVED THAT THE AIRCRAFT COMMENCED A TURN WHICH TIGHTENED AND THEN THE TARGET DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCOPE. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ABOUT 65 FT BELOW A RIDGE LINE AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 3500 FT MSL. IT IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN WITH THE RIGHT WING FIRST, THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED 58 FT UPSLOPE BEFORE COMING TO REST. MOUNTAIN TOPS IN THE AREA WERE OBSCURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1547H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1547H-2012-06-27), registration cancelled 2012-06-27, S/N 177RG0721, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0721
- Airframe hours: 2473
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Vernon Walker Pittman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 1982, 77 hours before
- Departed: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Destination: TOA, TORRANCE, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 410 total, 15 in this make and model, 360 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Temperature: 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19830205004269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830205004269A), Feb 5, 1983: Cessna 177RG, Las Vegas, NV, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Was observed to climb into IMC after takeoff. Radar returns indicate pilot lost control. Crashed near mountain top.

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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