- Date
- July 20, 1989, 21:09 local (Jul 21, 1989, 04:09 UTC)
- Place
- Hesperia, CA
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N30039Cessna 177
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890720024169A
- Case key
- 26236
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
An inflight collision with a power line while maneuvering at low altitude shortly after departure on a dark night over an area with few ground reference lights. The reasons for the aircraft's flight path and altitude profile are undetermined. A factor in the accident was the apparent disagreement which occurred between the two pilots during the accident flight sequence.
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.
Analysis
Witnesses said that after takeoff the aircraft flew a curving right hand flight path at low altitude back toward the approach end of the runway used for departure. At a point corresponding to a modified and extended right base leg for the runway, the aircraft collided with a high tension power line at an altitude of 32 ft AGL. At the time of wire contact, the aircraft was flying parallel with the power line. A post crash fire consumed the aircraft. Extensive examination of the surviving wreckage components revealed no evidence of a pre-impact mechanical malfunction or failure. Automotive fuel of unknown origin or quality was probably being used in the aircraft without an approved STC. According to a second hand account from the surviving child passenger, the two pilots began 'fighting over the controls' after takeoff, with one pilot reportedly telling the other that 'he turned the wrong way.' The accident occurred on a dark night over an area with no ground reference lights.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N30039
- Reported as
- Cessna 177
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17701042
- Airframe hours
- 1,520
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Rene G. Munsey
- Registered owner
- Billy R. Fuqua
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 30, 1989 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- L26
- Destination
- CCB · Upland, CA
- Airport
- L26 · Hesperia, runway 21, 3,910 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,000 total · 10 in this make and model · 1,900 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 290° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- VCV, 13 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N30039 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.