Cessna 177 accident near Medina, Ohio, December 1, 1982
On December 1, 1982 at about 10:25 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N29528, was destroyed in an accident near Medina, Ohio (Freedom Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- December 1, 1982 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Medina, Ohio · Freedom Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N29528 · no longer on the register · serial 17700943
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 1430 EST, THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM FREEDOM FIELD, MEDINA, OH IN VFR CONDITIONS. WHEN HE RETURNED ABOUT 3 HRS LATER AT DUSK, THE WEATHER WAS ESTIMATED TO BE: 400 FT OVERCAST, 3/4 MI VISIBILITY WITH FOG. A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR HEARD THE PLANE FLY OVER THE AIRPORT JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. HE HEARD A CONTINUOUS SOUND FROM THE ENGINE UNTIL THE PLANE CRASHED ABOUT 3/4 MI EAST OF THE AIRPORT IN A WOODED AREA. INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED WITH TREES AT ABOUT 60 FT AGL WHILE ON A HEADING OF APRX 220 DEG. THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED AIRBORNE FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 100 FT WHERE IT STRUCK ANOTHER TREE AND THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED. THE MAIN WRECKAGE CAME TO REST 458 FT FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.
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: 102 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 54 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,654 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FDM Medina OH at 2:30 pm
- Destination: FDM Medina OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,860 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 135°F (57°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:42 pm from CAK, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.