Cessna 177 accident near Ft. Leonardwood, MO
On December 29, 1997, a Cessna 177 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ft. Leonardwood, MO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 29, 1997
- Place
- Ft. Leonardwood, MO
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.941°N, 91.761°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X09289
NTSB summary
On December 28, 1997, at approximately 1930 central standard time (cst), a Cessna 177, N30255, piloted by a non-instrument rated private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with trees, terrain and post-impact fire following a loss of control while in cruise flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight departed Audubon, Iowa, exact time unknown. The airplane was reported missing on December 28, 1997, by relatives of the pilot. The airplane was found near Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri, on April 17, 1998. The Grand Forks, North Dakota, FAA FSS records showed the pilot obtained an outlook weather briefing for a VFR flight to Houston, Missouri, on December 27, 1997, at 2018 cst. The pilot was advised of marginal to instrument meteorological conditions along his route of flight by the FSS specialist. The pilot called the FSS at 1038 cst on December 28, 1998, and obtained an abbreviated weather briefing for a VFR flight to the same destination. The FSS specialist said he advised the pilot that "...wide spread IFR conditions currently existed along the first half of the route, and that VFR flight is not recommended." After reviewing the weather information the pilot reportedly told the briefer "...that if he [had] to delay and/or deviate, and it should get dark, and if snow or fog reduces visibility, then he would not continue, but set down and wait it out." The pilot told the FSS Specialist that he would check the weather before he
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance and his inadequate inflight decision which resulted in VFR flight in to instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot's overconfidence in his ability is a contributing factor.
More accidents in MO
- British Aerospace Jetstream 32, Oct 20, 2004
- Pacific Aerospace Ltd 750XL, Jun 14, 2026
- De Havilland DHC-6-100, Jul 29, 2006
- Beech E-55, Jul 13, 2001
- Cessna U206G, Mar 21, 1998
Browse: Missouri · 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.
