# NTSB LAX90FA016: Cessna 177, N30228, So Lake Tahoe, CA, October 24, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 24, 1989, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: So Lake Tahoe, CA
- Location: 38.9282° N, 119.9810° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of South Lake Tahoe, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9282&lon=-119.9810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26597
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26597/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA016

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT AFTER ENCOUNTERING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - preflight briefing service - selected, pilot in command
  - weather forecast - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - weather condition - obscuration
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - autopilot - selected, pilot in command
  - spiral - initiated, pilot in command
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30228](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30228-1990-07-20), registration cancelled 1990-07-20, S/N 17701134 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177
- Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17701134
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edward A. Morris
- Departed: MOD, MODESTO, CA
- Destination: O04, CARSON CITY, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 450 total, 50 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TVL, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19891024043719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891024043719A), Oct 24, 1989: Cessna STC177, Southlake Tahoe, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Vnr was advised. Departed. Lost control in area cloud obscured mountains.

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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