# NTSB LAX83FA341: Cessna 177, N3407T, Grass Valley, CA, July 16, 1983 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 1983, 11:54 local (18:54 UTC) - Place: Grass Valley, CA - Coordinates: 39.180023, -120.98014 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1800&lon=-120.9801&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 23474 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA341 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23474/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA341 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT HAD FLOWN TO THE ARPT 5 TIMES BEFORE AND WAS AWARE THAT ALL LANDINGS WERE TO THE NORTH AND TAKEOFFS TO THE SOUTH ON THE SINGLE RWY 01-19. THIS WAS FOR NOISE ABATEMENT AT THE NORTH END OF THE RWY AND BECAUSE OF THE RWY UPSLOPE TO THE NORTH. AT ABOUT 1150 AN ACFT BELIEVED TO BE THE ACCIDENT ACFT WAS SEEN BY THE DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW OVER THEIR HOUSE SOUTH OF THE ARPT HEADING TOWARD THE ARPT AS IF TO LAND ON RWY 01. AT 1154 THE ACFT WAS SEEN NORTH OF THE ARPT FLYING LOW WHERE IT STRUCK A TREE, PULLED UP, STALLED AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS LEFT SIDE TO CRASH NOSE FIRST. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND RETRACTED IN THE WRECKAGE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT IN A GO AROUND CLIMB APPLY FULL POWER SMOOTHLY, REMOVE CARBURETOR HEAT AND REDUCE FLAPS PROMPTLY TO THE HALF POSITION. AT 75 MPH RETRACT FLAPS SLOWLY TO FULL UP. IF OBSTACLES ARE AHEAD THE WING FLAPS SHOULD BE LEFT AT HALF UNTIL OBSTACLES ARE CLEARED. ## Aircraft - Registration: N3407T (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700707 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stutzman, Charle R. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: HAF, HALF MOON BAY, CA - Airport: Q62, Alta Sierra, runway 1, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 105 total, 104 in this make and model, 77 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 19830716032819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830716032819A), Jul 16, 1983: Cessna 177, Grass Valley, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft hit trees during aborted landing, crashed and burned. Runway sloped and landings were made uphill. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.