# NTSB SEA80FA004: Cessna 177RG, N34948, Ephrata, WA, October 18, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 18, 1979
- Place: Ephrata, WA · EPHRATA, WA
- Location: 47.3121° N, 119.5344° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ephrata, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3121&lon=-119.5344&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 18, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133665
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA80FA004
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80FA004

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2987  79/10/18 NR.EPHRATA,WA         CESSNA 177RG        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 800
        TIME - 1314                    N34948              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 400 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          HAVRE,MT                    ELLENSBURG,WA.              EPHRATA,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       43
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- COLLIDED W HILL AT 2250FT MSL.CEILING APRX 2070FT AT EPHRATA,WA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N34948](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34948-1980-09-29), registration cancelled 1980-09-29, S/N 177RG1029, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ephrata Muni

## 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 19791018034939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791018034939A), Oct 18, 1979: Cessna 177RG, Ephrata, WA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. VFR pilot,on special VFR to airport in adverse weather,misread to/from on VOR. Flew into clouds and ground.

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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