Cessna 177RG accident near Van Horn, Texas, December 29, 1993
On December 29, 1993 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N1527H, was destroyed in an accident near Van Horn, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT EXCEEDED THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER A LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH RESULTED FROM VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER, THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE, AND HIS FAILURE TO UPDATE HIS WEATHER BRIEFING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 1993 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Van Horn, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N1527H · no longer on the register · serial 177RG0703
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT ON A DAY VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT AFTER ENCOUNTERING LOW CEILINGS, FOG, AND TURBULENCE OVER THE MOUNTAINS WITHIN 100 MILES OF HIS DESTINATION. CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL, BREAKING UP IN FLIGHT PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE WRECKAGE WAS SPREAD OVER 2,263 FEET ON A HEADING OF 030 DEGREES. A WEATHER BRIEFING RECEIVED ABOUT 5 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT DID NOT INCLUDE THE CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED. AT APPROXIMATELY 1400 THE PILOT WAS INFORMED OF WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE VAN HORN AIRPORT VIA UNICOM.
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: 250 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,270 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 1993; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SJT San Angelo TX at 6:26 pm
- Destination: ELP El Paso TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded at 500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.