- Date
- July 30, 1988, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place
- Cedar Grove, CA
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N52504Cessna 177RG
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880730028319A
- Case key
- 25851
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Pilots decision to attempt a flight through a mountainous area at an altitude insufficient to ensure terrain clearance.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
In flight collision with object
Weather condition - high density altitudeFactor
Preflight planning/preparation - poorCause
Lack of total experienceFactor
In-flight planning/decision - improperCause
Lack of total experience in type operationFactor
Terrain condition - risingFactor
Aircraft weight and balance - exceededFactor
Performance data - not usedCause
Aircraft performance,turn capability - exceededCause
Object - tree(s)
In flight collision with terrain/water
Aircraft
- Registration
- N52504
- Reported as
- Cessna 177RG
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 177RG1202
- Airframe hours
- 1,528
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Alameda Flying Club
- Registered owner
- Jerry Fiddler
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 21, 1988 · 57 hours before
- Departed
- OAK · Oakland, CA
- Destination
- LAS · Las Vegas, NV
- Flight plan
- VFR
N52504Registration cancelled Sep 19, 1990 · Cessna 177RGAirframe modelCessna 177RGEngine modelLycoming IO-360-A1B6D
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 207 total · 3 in this make and model · 152 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.