Cessna 177 accident near Fullerton, California, January 14, 1985
On January 14, 1985 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N3279T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fullerton, California (Fullerton Muni airport). It was a personal 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
- January 14, 1985 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3279T · no longer on the register · serial 17700579
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON LANDING, THE ACFT PORPOISED AFTER IT TOUCHED DOWN LONG & FAST. A GO-AROUND WAS ATTEMPTED, BUT TOO LATE, & THE ACFT STRUCK A FENCE AT THE END OF THE RWY. THE OWNER OF THE ACFT A PRE-SOLO STUDENT PILOT, WAS A PASSENGER. THE 'PILOT' LEFT THE SCENE & COULD NOT BE LOCATED. FAA RECORDS DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE 'PILOT' EVER HELD AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE. THE 'PILOT' HAD REPRESENTED HIMSELF TO THE OWNER AS AN ACFT MECHANIC & HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO CONDUCT AN ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE ACFT. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO 'CHECK OUT THE ACFT. . .'
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,653 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 1984; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,275 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from FUL
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.