# NTSB SEA85FA065: Cessna 177A, N30394, Ely, NV, August 5, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 4, 1984, 21:00 local (Aug 5, 1984, 04:00 UTC)
- Place: Ely, NV
- Coordinates: 39.420753, -115.00003 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4208&lon=-115.0000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40034
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85FA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40034/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85FA065

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN DURING A NIGHT X-COUNTRY. NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED. RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE NORMAL DURING THE SHORT (40 MILE) FLT, UNTIL THE PLT WAS ASKED TO CHANGE TRANSPONDER CODES. THE TRANSPONDER SIGNAL CEASED INSTEAD. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED ON THE WEST SLOPES OF A VALLEY RUNNING NORTH/SOUTH BETWEEN MT RANGES IN AN AREA CHARACTERIZED BY GENTLY RISING TERRAIN. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED ON 3/1/85, ABOUT 7 MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE DELAY WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE IN LOCATING THE ACFT, WHICH BECAME OVERDUE (MISSING) ON 8/6/84. SKELETAL REMAINS OF THE PLT, FOUND 2 MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE, MADE PATHOLOGICAL TESTS VERY DIFFICULT. HOWEVER, EVIDENCE OF ASKULL FRACTURE WAS PRESENT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE ON THE REMAINS OR CLOTHING OF THE PLT. THE PAX REMAINS WERE FOUND NEAR THE REAR COCKPIT AREA OF THE WRECKAGE AND THERE WAS SOME EVIDENCE OF FIRE INVOLVEMENT ON THE CLOTHING COVERING ON LOWER EXTREMITY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N30394 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17701232
- Airframe hours: 2586
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2F 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jeffrey Drissel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1983, 160 hours before
- Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 177 total, 38 in this make and model, 122 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Wind: 160° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC, 135 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 19840804044679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840804044679A), Aug 4, 1984: Cessna 177A, Ely, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft collided with rising terrain and tree. Dark night with area thunderstorms. Poor judgment possible factor.

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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