# NTSB WPR18LA205: Cessna 177, N3477T, San Diego/El Cajon, CA, July 28, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 28, 2018, 10:23 local (17:23 UTC) - Place: San Diego/El Cajon, CA - Coordinates: 32.82611, -116.9725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8261&lon=-116.9725&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97908 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97908/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97908 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA205 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in his exceedance of the airplane's maximum gross weight, which lead to the airplane's poor climb performance, and a subsequent loss of control and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability: maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 152 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: weight/balance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 177, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 177, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while departing on a cross-country flight from the 2,738-ft-long runway, the engine lost partial power about 100 ft above ground level during the initial climb. He lowered the airplane's nose, which appeared to restore engine power, then raised the nose again as the airplane approached the end of the runway. The engine then experienced a "severe" loss of power and the airplane subsequently impacted a dirt field at the departure end of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and review of data from the onboard engine monitor revealed that the engine was producing full power throughout the takeoff. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector spoke to several witnesses who saw the pilot fill a truck bed with belongings from the accident airplane, including wooden crates full of avocados. The pilot confirmed that he had a "substantial amount" of cargo on board, and that he did not calculate the airplane's weight and balance for the flight. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot's inadequate preflight planning resulted in his exceedance of the airplane's maximum gross weight, which lead to the the airplane's poor climb performance, the perceived loss of engine power, and the subsequent loss of control and impact with terrain. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2018, about 1023 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177 airplane, N3477T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near San Diego/El Cajon, California. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the takeoff and initial climb were normal until about 100 ft above ground level, when the engine began to lose power. He lowered the airplane's nose to prevent a stall, which "resulted in a return to full power." As the airplane neared the end of the 2,738-ft-long runway, the pilot raised the nose again; the engine experienced a "severe" loss of power and the airplane impacted a dirt field at the departure end of the runway. The airplane continued to slide on the ground about 100 yards before coming to rest adjacent to a taxiway. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Review of data from the airplane's engine monitor revealed that engine power was increased to a takeoff setting of 2,550 rpm; the engine maintained that setting or higher for about 30 seconds. The final data points showed a fuel flow of zero, consistent with the engine being shut off. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector spoke to several witnesses who were at the scene of the accident and saw the pilot fill up a truck bed with belongings from the accident airplane. Most notable of the cargo were wooden crates full of avocados. The pilot confirmed that he had a "substantial amount" of cargo on board the airplane and stated that he did not calculate a weight and balance for the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3477T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3477T-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N 17700777, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700777 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 4127.23 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2017 - Departed: SEE, San Diego/El Cajon, CA - Destination: LPC, Lompoc, CA - Airport: SEE, Gillespie Field, runway 27L, 2,738 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 242 total, 47 in this make and model, 242 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: SEE ## 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 20180728024199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180728024199A), Jul 28, 2018: Cessna 177, El Cajon, CA, Substantial damage. After rotating from the runway the airman experienced a power loss. The airman lowered the nose and saw an increase in the RPM and attempted to climb out… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97908. 5.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11912187&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%202018%5B4495%5D-final%201_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of email (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11912868&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20WPR18LA205-Rel.pdf - Flight data (item 3, CSV, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11912303&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Flight%20Data%20N3477T-Rel.csv - Airframe and engine examination (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 867 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11912422&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR18LA205%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 702 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11912447&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Wreckage%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.