Cessna 177 accident near St. Johns, AZ
On August 16, 2008, a Cessna 177 (airplane) was involved in an accident near St. Johns, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 16, 2008
- Place
- St. Johns, AZ
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.519°N, 109.379°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080818X01259
Official records · SEA08LA179
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Audio File 1 – Flight Service Station Briefing: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 16, 2008, at 1545 mountain standard time, N3487T, a Cessna 177, collided with terrain during takeoff from St. Johns Industrial Airpark, St. Johns, Arizona. The pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) survived the accident but later died, succumbing to his injuries. The private pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) and one passenger were seriously injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The pilot departed from Grants-Milan Municipal Airport, Grants, New Mexico, and was destined for Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona. Prior to the flight, flight service was contacted and the caller requested activation of a previously filed flight plan and an “update briefing.” The CFI’s name was listed as the pilot on the flight plan. The flight plan was then activated from Grants, New Mexico, to Falcon Field, with a fuel stop in St. Johns. St. Johns is located about 80 miles from Grants. The briefer advised the caller that there were thunderstorms developing near his route of flight. The caller then said, "We should load up and go." During the later portion of the briefing, the caller was overheard talking to another person as the briefer gave the briefing, and the briefer also queried the caller multiple times to confirm if he was still on the line and received the information that the briefer was providing. According to fueling personnel at the St. Johns Industrial Airpark who wit
Probable cause
The failure of both pilots to abort the takeoff when a suitable climb rate could not be attained. Contributing to the accident was the reduction of available power due to the camshaft lobe and lifter corrosion/wear, the high density altitude, and the CFI’s inadequate supervision.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona · 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.
