Cessna 177RG accident near Imperial, California, April 3, 1993
On April 3, 1993 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N34205, was substantially damaged in an accident near Imperial, California (Imperial County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A DUST DEVIL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 1993 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Imperial, California · Imperial County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N34205 · registry record · serial 177RG0982
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DUST DEVIL WHICH LIFTED AND TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER AND BEGAN A TAKEOFF. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE LEADING EDGE OF A PARKED AIRPLANE. THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND INTENTIONALLY LANDED ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY WITH ITS LANDING GEARS RETRACTED. A GROUND WITNESS CONFIRMED THE DUST DEVIL PHENOMENA.
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: 936 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IPL at 6:05 pm
- Destination: IPL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 5,304 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.