Cessna 177A accident near Springerville, Arizona, November 16, 1985
On November 16, 1985 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177A, registered N30351, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springerville, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- November 16, 1985 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Springerville, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177A · all 177As on the register
- Registration
- N30351 · registry record · serial 17701206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT THE ENG OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO WHILE THE ACFT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT. HE SELECTED AN OPEN FIELD IN WHICH TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. HE SAID THAT AS HE APPROACHED THE FIELD THE ACFT ENTERED A DOWNDRAFT. HE STATED HE HAD REDUCED ENG PWR TO FLIGHT IDLE AND DID NOT APPLY THROTTLE AFTER ENCOUNTERING THE DOWNDRAFT. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TELEPHONE WIRES, A UTILITY POLE AND A WIRE FENCE. THE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE THAT PRODUCED THE INDICATION OF LOST OIL PRESSURE WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: 484 hours in all; 365 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 459 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,891 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 1984; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q35 Springerville AZ at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 4EQ Taylor AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from SOW, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.