# NTSB LAX85LA077: Cessna 177RG, N34992, Santa Maria, CA, December 15, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 14, 1984, 16:12 local (Dec 15, 1984, 00:12 UTC)
- Place: Santa Maria, CA
- Coordinates: 34.819572, -120.410263 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8196&lon=-120.4103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24612
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24612/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA077

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - touch-and-go - performed, pilot in command
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - total, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vlof) - not attained (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON A TOUCH-AND-GO LNDG, ACFT VEERED LEFT AND LEFT WING CAME UP, RAISING LEFT WHEEL OFF GROUND. PLT CORRECTED WITH AILERON AND ADDED POWER FOR GO-AROUND BUT ACFT WAS OFF RUNWAY AND TRAVERSING SOFT TERRAIN; LIFT-OFF SPEED WAS NOT ATTAINED AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE STUMP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N34992 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 177RG1034
- Airframe hours: 465
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Santa Maria Cloudniners Inc
- Registered owner: Santa Maria
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 1984
- Departed: SMX, SANTA MARIA, CA
- Airport: SMX, Santa Maria, runway 30, 6,300 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 161 total, 89 in this make and model, 161 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SMX

## 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 19841214068199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841214068199A), Dec 14, 1984: Cessna 177RG, Santa Maria, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot made a high approach, touched down on all 3 gears, swerved off the runway and struck tree stumps and brush.

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.
