# NTSB SEA89FA180: Cessna 177RG, N8055G, Nyssa, OR, September 29, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 29, 1989
- Place: Nyssa, OR
- Coordinates: 43.730831, -117.150634 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7308&lon=-117.1506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40937
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89FA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40937/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89FA180

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE BEFORE FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  DARK NIGHT, RISING/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AND PROBABLE IMPAIRMENT FROM A PRESCRIPTION DRUG.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT DEPD NAMPA ARPT AT ABOUT 1630 LCL TIME. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE PLT HAD LANDED AT AN UNATTENDED STRIP NEAR OWYHEE RESERVOIR & THAT THE OCCUPANTS HAD DEPLANED FOR A TIME. EARLY THE NEXT MORNING AT 0118 HRS, AN ELT SIGNAL WAS DETECTED IN THE AREA. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED AFTER DAYBREAK & THE ACFT WAS FND WHERE IT HAD IMPACTED ABOUT 100 FT BELOW THE TOP OF A RIDGE, APRX 1 MI WEST OF THE STRIP. ELEVATION OF THE STRIP WAS 2680 FT. ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 3350 FT. THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH ABOUT 20 DEG RISING TERRAIN. THE PLT'S URINE TESTED POSITIVE FOR BENZODIAZEPINES. TESTS SHOWED HIS BLOOD CONTAINED 0.09 MG/L DIAZEPAM & 0.11 MG/L NORDIAZEPAM. THERAPEUTIC RANGES OF THESE SUBSTANCES WERE RPRTD TO BE 0.02 TO 2.0 MG/L FOR DIAZEPAM & 0.02 TO 1.8 MG/L FOR NORDIAZEPAM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8055G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8055G-1989-09-29), registration cancelled 1989-09-29, S/N 177RG0055, built 1971 (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: 177RG0055
- Airframe hours: 2080
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard E. Brush
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 5, 1989, 5 hours before
- Departed: S67, NAMPA, ID

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,513 total, 18 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19890929037189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890929037189A), Sep 29, 1989: Cessna 177RG, Nyssa, OR, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew up a draw after night takeoff from remote strip crashed on upslope just below crest. Pilot medicated high dose

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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