Cessna 177RG accident near Happy Jack, Arizona, October 11, 1986
On October 11, 1986 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N34213, was destroyed in an accident near Happy Jack, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 11, 1986 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Happy Jack, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N34213 · registry record · serial 177RG0984
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PLT WAS INFORMED THAT MVFR WEATHER CONDITIONS EXISTED ALONG HIS PLANNED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE PLT TOOK OFF & HEADED INTO THE DETERIORATING WX. WHILE CRUISING BENEATH CLOUDS THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN. THE PLT REPORTEDLY WAS HAVING MARITAL PROBLEMS & SOUGHT CUSTODY OF HIS 22-MONTH OLD SON. THE PLT WAS HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO LEAVE TOWN. THE PLT WAS TRANSPORTING HIS SON IN THE ACFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACC.
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: 500 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 456 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,893 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 1986; 148 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PGA Page AZ at 5:45 pm
- Destination: DVT Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft; scat at 200 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from FLG, 27 miles away
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.