Cessna 177B accident near Chancellor, SD
On November 5, 1996, a Cessna 177B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Chancellor, SD. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 5, 1996
- Place
- Chancellor, SD
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.370°N, 96.981°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06997
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 4, 1996, at 2104 central standard time, a Cessna 177B, N34994, was destroyed during impact with the terrain about 5 miles north of Chancellor, South Dakota. The pilot was attempting to find a suitable landing airport at the time of the accident. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in night instrument meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Scottsbluff, Nebraska, time unknown, with the intended destination of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At 2059 the pilot contacted Sioux Falls Air Traffic Control (ATCT), stating, "I'm landing. I have information Oscar and I am transponder equipped." To this the ATCT responded, "Yes sir, the airport is IFR. Are you requesting an IFR clearance? I can't let you come in VFR." The pilot then stated, "I can't do that. Is there anyplace else I can go?" The ATCT offered, "Tea/Great Plains Airport is one one zero heading from your present position and one two miles." ATCT then suggested additional headings to the Tea/Great Plains Airport as the airplane continued to fly in a southerly direction. When asked by the ATCT, the pilot confirmed the altitude of the airplane to be 1,800 (feet mean sea level). At 2102 the controller asked, "OK sir, say your heading now please." The pilot answered, "I'm still at one eight three." This is the last known transmission received from the accident airplane. PERSONAL INFORMATION The pilot born February 11, 1926, was the holder of a private pilot certificate with privileges for single engine land. He did not
Probable cause
the pilot's attempted flight with known deficiencies in equipment, his initiating VFR flight into IMC conditions, his spatial disorientation and loss of control of the airplane. Factors were fog, dark night, and inoperative directional gyro.
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Browse: South Dakota · 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.
