Cessna 177RG accident near Salem, Ohio, February 15, 1984
On February 15, 1984 at about 2:01 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N52697, was destroyed in an accident near Salem, Ohio (Salem airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- February 15, 1984 · about 2:01 pm local time
- Place
- Salem, Ohio · Salem · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N52697 · no longer on the register · serial 177RG1253
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT GOT A WEATHER BRIEFING AND WAS ADVISED OF AREAS OF FOG. WHILE TAKING OFF TOWARD THE WEST, HE ENCOUNTERED FOG. THE ACFT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE END OF THE RWY & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED ABOUT 1 MI NORTHWEST OF THE ARPT. INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH THE TOPS OF TREES AT APRX 80 FT AGL. THE WX AT A REPORTING STATION ABOUT 24 MI AWAY WAS, IN PART: SKY OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1/8 MI WITH FOG. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE, THE WX AT THE DEPARTURE ARPT WAS ABOUT THE SAME. THE WX AT THE ARPT WAS CHECKED THE NEXT MORNING AT THE SAME TIME OF DAY & IT WAS NOTED THAT THE FOG WAS HEAVIEST AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE TAKEOFF RWY.
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: 76 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,414 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 2, 1983; 368 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 38D Salem OH at 1:00 pm
- Destination: OSU Columbia OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°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.