Amateur-built GLASAIR RG accident near Columbus, Ohio, June 23, 1984
On June 23, 1984 at about 5:05 pm local time, a amateur-built GLASAIR RG, registered N5177Y, was destroyed in an accident near Columbus, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- June 23, 1984 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR RG
- Registration
- N5177Y · registry record · serial 134R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON THE 2ND LEG OF A FLT TO FERRY THE HOME-BUILT ACFT TO THE LANCASTER ARPT FOR FURTHER TESTING. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE REQUESTED CLEARANCE TO STAY IN THE AREA FOR A FEW MINUTES. ATC ASKED HIM IF HE HAD A PROBLEM & THE PLT RESPONDED 'NO, I JUST WANT TO CHECK SOMETHING OUT.' A FEW MINUTES LATER, HE STATED 'I'M IN TROUBLE.' THE ACFT WAS SEEN & HEARD IN A DESCENDING LEFT TURN AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF OVER 100 MPH WITH THE ENG RUNNING AT A HIGH RPM & WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. WHILE IN A DESCENDING LEFT TURN, THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE TOP. IT THEN HIT A UTILITY POLE, IMPACTED THE GROUND, BURST INTO FLAMES & WAS DEMOLISHED BY FIRE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 3,929 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 3,800 as pilot in command; 794 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CMH
- Destination: I15 Lancaster OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 012° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from CMH, 3 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.