Cessna 177A accident near Canon, Georgia, March 3, 1990
On March 3, 1990 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 177A, registered N30367, was substantially damaged in an accident near Canon, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN CARBURETOR ICE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1990 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Canon, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177A · all 177As on the register
- Registration
- N30367 · no longer on the register · serial 17701213
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DESCENDING FM 2500 TO 2000 FT, THE PLT REALIZED THE ENG HAD LOST PWR, WHEN IT DID NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE MOVEMENTFOR LEVEL OFF. HE MOVED THE CARBURETOR HEAT TO THE 'ON' POSITION, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD & THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED ON SOFT TERRAIN. THE CARBURETOR WAS DAMAGED DURING THE OCCURRENCE. AFTER IT WAS REPLACED, THE ENG WOULD OPERATE. AN EXAM OF THE DAMAGED CARBURETOR REVEALED ONLY NORMAL WEAR. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 64 & 44 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO CARBURETOR ICING CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 160 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 108 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,219 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 4, 1989; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AHN Athens GA at 7:10 pm
- Destination: 18A Canon GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from AHN, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.