Cessna 177 accident near Morgan Hill, California, October 30, 1982
On October 30, 1982 at about 1:10 am local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2947X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morgan Hill, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- October 30, 1982 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Morgan Hill, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2947X · no longer on the register · serial 347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO PERFORM A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. DURING THE PREFLIGHT, ABOUT 1 PINT OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE WINGS/SUMPS AND ABOUT 1/2 TEASPOON OF WATER WAS FOUND. AFTER TAKING OFF, THE POWER WAS REDUCED TO ABOUT 2500 RPM AND 25 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE. AS THE CLIMB WAS CONTINUED, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT ABOUT 3500 FT MSL. THE PILOTS WERE UNABLE TO RESTORE THE ENGINE POWER. THEIR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES INCLUDED THE USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT AND THE FUEL BOOST PUMP. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT FIELD. THE PILOT SUSPECTED CARBURETOR ICE, BUT THIS WAS NOT CONFIRMED. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE BEFORE IMPACT. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 68 AND 58 DEGREES, RESPECTIVELY.
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: 256 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 168 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,540 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RHV San Jose CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: RHV San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 154°F (68°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.