Cessna 177 accident near Show Low, Arizona, July 30, 1983
On July 30, 1983 at about 6:16 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N30236, was substantially damaged in an accident near Show Low, Arizona (Show Low airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people 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
- July 30, 1983 · about 6:16 pm local time
- Place
- Show Low, Arizona · Show Low · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N30236 · registry record · serial 17701140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ARPT ELEVATION WAS 6411 FT MSL & THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APRX 9150 FT. DURING TAKEOFF, THE ACFT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 7300 FT MSL, THEN BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE WING OF THE ACFT HIT A TREE, THEN THE PLANE CRASHED. THE ENG WAS REMOVED & TRANSPORTED TO A FACILITY FOR TESTING. DUE TO IMPACT, THE MAGNETOS WERE REPLACED, THEN THE ENGINE WAS RUN AT 1000, 1800 & 2200 RPM. NO PREIMPACT DISCREPANCIES WERE VERIFIED.
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: 531 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 462 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,312 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1983; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SOW Show Low AZ at 6:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N30236 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.