# NTSB NYC85FA201: Cessna C-177B, N34672, Macungie, PA, July 31, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 31, 1985, 14:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Macungie, PA
- Coordinates: 40.510631, -75.550575 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5106&lon=-75.5506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35575
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85FA201
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35575/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85FA201

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - meteorological service - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - residence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT DESCEND IN A NEAR NOSE DIVE ATTITUDE DURING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. THE PLT WAS NOT IN RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH GND FACILITIES. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PLT IMPAIRMENT OR INCAPACITAITON. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE PLT RECEIVEING A WX BRIEFING. THE FLIGHT DIST. BETWEEN THE DESTINATION AND DEPARTURE ARPTS IS 32 MIS. THE ACCIDENT OCCURED 28 MIS FROM THE DEPARTURE ARPT. VFR WX CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE DEPARTURE ARPT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N34672 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C-177B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17701933
- Airframe hours: 1757
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Skyten Flying Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 1985, 100 hours before
- Departed: N34, PROSPECTVILLE, PA
- Destination: 1N9, ALLENTOWN, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,587 total, 63 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABE, 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 19850731035259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850731035259A), Jul 31, 1985: Cessna 177B, Macungie, PA, Destroyed. Witnesses saw aircraft in uncontrolled descent as severe thunderstorms occurred. Impacted 60 degrees nose down angle

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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