Cessna 177RG accident near Petaluma, CA
On October 3, 1993, a Cessna 177RG (airplane) was involved in an accident near Petaluma, CA. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 3, 1993
- Place
- Petaluma, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.229°N, 122.560°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X13577
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 2, 1993, at 2329 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N45022, descended into rising terrain about three and one-half miles east-southeast of the Petaluma Municipal (uncontrolled) Airport, Petaluma, California. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity of the accident site. The airplane was destroyed during the bright nighttime personal flight. Two private pilots (a female who owned the airplane, and a male) and two passengers were fatally injured. No evidence was found that either pilot had received a preflight weather briefing prior to taking off from the Reno Cannon International Airport, Reno, Nevada, or had received a weather briefing while en route to Petaluma. No flight plan was filed, and no instrument flight rules clearance was issued during the accident flight. Based upon the National Transportation Safety Board's review of the Federal Administration Administration's air traffic communications tape, at 2208 the pilot with a male-sounding voice contacted the air traffic facility at the Reno Airport. The pilot indicated that he planned to fly to Petaluma. The pilot was issued a clearance to taxi for takeoff, and a few minutes later, at 2214, the airplane departed in visual flight conditions. During the airplane's initial climb, at 2219, Reno Departure Control identified the airplane on radar. FAA controllers did not experience any difficulty handling the airplane's flight. All radar services and communications were described as having been routine. All services with the airplane were terminated at 2224. No other FAA
Probable cause
VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT(S) INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEARANCE FROM TERRAIN, WHILE APPROACHING THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LOW CEILING AND TERRAIN.
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Browse: California · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
