Cessna 177RG accident near Dallas, Texas, April 12, 1986
On April 12, 1986 at about 6:40 am local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N8047G, was destroyed in an accident near Dallas, Texas. 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
- April 12, 1986 · about 6:40 am local time
- Place
- Dallas, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N8047G · no longer on the register · serial 177RG0047
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY THE FAA WEATHER BRIEFER, PRIOR TO FLIGHT, AGAINST MAKING THIS FLIGHT DUE TO PRESENT AND FORECAST WEATHER CONDITIONS. AFTER ARRIVING IN THE GENERAL AREA OF HIS DESTINATION THE PLT OBSERVED THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND COMMENTED ON THIER SEVERITY TO THE FAA CONTROLLER. THE LOCAL CONTROLLER SUGGESTED THREE TIMES THAT THE FLIGHT DIVERT TO LOVE FIELD. THE MOST PROBABLE REASON FOR THE PLT NOT DIVERTING WAS THAT A FRIEND WAS AWAITING HIS ARRIVAL AT ADDISON AIRPORT. THE PLT WAS POSSIBLY INCAPACITATED BY HAIL IMPACT AFTER THE WINDSHIELD HAD SEPARATED. FURTHERMORE, CESSNA ENGINEERS STATED THE AIRCRAFT MOST PROBABLY WOULD BE UNCONTROLLABLE WITHOUT THE WINDSHIELD IN PLACE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,004 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 1985; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GUP Gallup NM at 2:04 am
- Destination: ADS Addison TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded at 600 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 am from DAL, 10 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.