# NTSB LAX93LA163: Cessna 177RG, N34205, Imperial, CA, April 3, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1993, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Imperial, CA
- Coordinates: 32.859931, -115.650115 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8599&lon=-115.6501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28361
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28361/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA163

## Probable cause

THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A DUST DEVIL.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - roll
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - object - aircraft parked/standing
- Gear not extended, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wheels up landing - intentional, pilot in command

## Analysis

DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DUST DEVIL WHICH LIFTED AND TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER AND BEGAN A TAKEOFF.  SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE LEADING EDGE OF A PARKED AIRPLANE.  THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND INTENTIONALLY LANDED ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY WITH ITS LANDING GEARS RETRACTED.  A GROUND WITNESS CONFIRMED THE DUST DEVIL PHENOMENA.

## Factual narrative

On April 3, 1993, at about 1500 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 177RG, N34205, executed an emergency landing adjacent to Imperial County Airport, Imperial, California, after colliding with a parked airplane.  The pilot was completing a local visual flight rules personal flight.  The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage.  Neither the certificated private pilot nor his passenger was injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot told Mr. Nick Weber, Aviation Safety Inspector, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), San Diego [California] Flight Standards District Office, that prior to landing the surface winds were calm.  The touch down was normal, but during the landing roll out the airplane made an abrupt swerve to the left and exited the 100 foot wide runway.

After exiting the runway the airplane was heading toward a parked Cessna 175, N7378M.  The pilot applied power and began a go-around.  The airplane lifted off, but its left wheel struck the parked Cessna's leading edge wing and separated from the airplane.

The pilot executed a fly by over the runway and elected to land, gear up, on the dirt area adjacent to the runway.

A ground witness confirmed that the winds were calm as the airplane touched down.  A "dust devil," however, developed as the airplane was rolling out.  After encountering the dust devil, the airplane lifted off the runway and turned to the left.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N34205](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N34205), registered now, S/N 177RG0982, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 177RG0982
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mcdonald, Arnold C.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: IPL
- Destination: IPL
- Airport: IPL, Imperial County Airport, runway 14, 5,304 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 936 total, 600 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F

## 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 19930403007819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930403007819A), Apr 3, 1993: Cessna 177, Imperial, CA, Substantial damage. Dust devil struck aircraft on landing. Swerved. Made go around. Left wheel severed on parked 175. Landed gear up.

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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