# NTSB LAX83LA319: Cessna 177B, N20391, Grand Canyon, AZ, July 2, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1983, 14:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: Grand Canyon, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.629985, -112.090583 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6300&lon=-112.0906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23776
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA319
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23776/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA319

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE CRUISING AT 9500FT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON ANY RWY AT GRAND CANYON ARPT. HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE ARPT AND LANDED IN TREES NEAR THE SOUTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON. THE SALVAGE CREW THAT RECOVERED THEACFT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS OF THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N20391 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17702667
- Airframe hours: 1863
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Johannes Andal
- Registered owner: Thomas Holliday
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 22, 1983, 50 hours before
- Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Destination: PRC, PRESCOTT, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,713 total, 160 in this make and model, 3,543 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 26
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GCN

## 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 19830702027899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830702027899A), Jul 2, 1983: Cessna 177B, Grand Canyon, AZ, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel approaching destination. Crash landed in trees. Pilot misjudged fuel supply.

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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