Cessna 177 accident near Kelleys Island, Ohio, March 30, 1984
On March 30, 1984 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N30204, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kelleys Island, Ohio (Kelley'S Island airport). 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
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
- March 30, 1984 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kelleys Island, Ohio · Kelley'S Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N30204 · no longer on the register · serial 17701118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, ROTATION OCCURRED ABOUT 3/5 OF THE WAY DOWN THE GRAVEL STRIP AND THE ACFT CLIMBED TO 20-30 FT WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. IN AN EFFORT TO MAINTAIN ALT THE NOSE ATTITUDE WAS INCREASED AND THE TAIL OF THE ACFT STRUCK THE TREES AND THEN THE GROUND. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO REMEMBER THE SPEED AT LIFTOFF STATING THAT HE WAS CONCENTRATING ON THE OBSTACLES AT THE END OF THE RWY. DURING AND ENG TEST RUN THE ENG PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY WITH NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS DISCOVERED.
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: 99 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 29, 1983; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 1G7 Port Clinton OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.