# NTSB SEA92FA113: Cessna 177B, N30922, St. Ignatius, MT, May 21, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 21, 1992, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: St. Ignatius, MT
- Coordinates: 47.320552, -114.019805 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3206&lon=-114.0198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41580
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92FA113
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41580/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92FA113

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADVERTENTLY ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER INTO A STALL/SPIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: TERRAIN CONDITION, RISING TERRAIN, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED AT THE 7500 FOOT LEVEL OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN A DRAW WHICH SLOPED UPHILL AT A GRADIENT OF +15 DEGREES TO THE WEST. ON SITE EXAMINATION INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE WITH THE WRECKAGE COMING TO REST APPROXIMATELY 45 FEET EAST-SOUTHEAST AND DOWNSLOPE OF THE IMPACT SITE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF POWERPLANT NOR CONTROL MALFUNCTION. A REVIEW OF THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK REVEALED NO PREVIOUS FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE STATE OF MONTANA NOR ANY DOCUMENTED MOUNTAIN FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30922](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30922-1992-10-07), registration cancelled 1992-10-07, S/N 17701547 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B
- Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17701547
- Airframe hours: 3641
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Fayler, Lawrence R.
- Registered owner: Fayler, Lawrence R.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 1991, 166 hours before
- Destination: 52S

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 794 total, 534 in this make and model, 733 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSO, 24 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 19920521022129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920521022129A), May 21, 1992: Cessna 177B, St Ignatius, MT, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Wreckage indicates vertical impact on a mountain rock ledge. Was on sightseeing flight. No prior mountain flights.

## Other investigations on N30922 (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA74DYC43](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74DYC43), Mar 23, 1974: Cessna 177 (N30922), Newport, OR, substantial damage

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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