Cessna 177B accident near Elko, Nevada, January 30, 1982
On January 30, 1982 at about 8:43 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N35289, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elko, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- January 30, 1982 · about 8:43 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N35289 · no longer on the register · serial 17702309
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT STATED THAT HE HAD "TOPPED THE TANKS" AFTER THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. THE PILOT OF THIS FLIGHT SAID THAT HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL BEFORE TAKEOFF.DURING FLIGHT, THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE CONTINUED TO INDICATE FULL. ABOUT 15 MILES FROM ELKO, THE ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER. AT THAT TIME, THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 1/4 FULL AND THE RIGHT GUAGE STILL INDICATED FULL. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE BY USING EITHER TANK. THE PLANE WAS DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD. AN INSPECTION REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS. WITH THE MASTER SWITCH ON, THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED EMPTY AND THE RIGHT GAUGE INDICATED FULL. FUEL STAINS WERE FOUND ON THE TOPS OF BOTH WINGS. A PRESSURE CHECK REVEALED EXTENSIVE LEAKAGE FROM THE LEFT WING. THE LEFT WING FUEL CAP PLIABLE SEAL WAS FOUND TO BE DRIED OUT.
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: 232 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 163 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Long Beach Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: EKO Long Beach CA at 8:30 am
- Destination: LGB Elko NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.