Cessna 177 accident near San Carlos, Arizona, November 30, 1987
On November 30, 1987 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2313Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Carlos, Arizona (San Carlos 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
- November 30, 1987 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- San Carlos, Arizona · San Carlos · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2313Y · no longer on the register · serial 17700113
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ADDED PWR ON FINAL APPROACH AND LATER STATED THAT THE ENG SEEMED TO BE LOSING PWR. HE SAID HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS L OF CTR ABT 1/2 INCH, CTRD IT AND ADDED CARB HEAT, HOWEVER THE ENG STILL QUIT. THE ACFT WAS TOO LOW TO LAND ON THE RWY SO THE PLT HEADED THE ACFT TO THE RT OF THE RWY. THE ACFT LANDED HARD. THE WX WAS CONDUCIVE TO THE CARB ICING. POST ACCD EXAM FOUND THE FUEL SELECTOR ON BOTH. TANKS WERE NOTED TO CONTAIN FUEL.
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: 197 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 155 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,952 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 1987; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,275 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F60 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E24 White River AZ at 11:30 pm
- Destination: 24E San Carlos AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 7,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from CHD, 89 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.