Cessna 177 accident near Minford, Ohio, August 20, 1982
On August 20, 1982, a Cessna 177, registered N30845, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minford, Ohio (Greater Portsmouth airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1982
- Place
- Minford, Ohio · Greater Portsmouth
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N30845 · no longer on the register · serial 17701501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. BEFORE TAKING OFF ON A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE FUEL TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PREFLIGHT RUN-UP WAS SATISFACTORY, AND DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ENGINE DEVELOPED FULL POWER. HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THERE WAS A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT CHECKED THE MAGNETOS AND MIXTURE, BUT DID NOT APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT. THE POWER CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE. DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A PASTURE TYPE FIELD, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE BASE OF A SILO. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A POWER LOSS. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 76 AND 61 DEG. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, VISIBLE ICING COULD OCCUR IN FLOAT TYPE CARBURETORS AT RATED POWER AND SERIOUS ICING COULD OCCUR AT GLIDE POWER.
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: 132 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 816 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PMH Minford OH at 7:46 pm
- Destination: PMH Minford OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.