Cessna 177BII accident near Lolo Pass, Idaho, September 22, 1985
On September 22, 1985 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177BII, registered N35105, was destroyed in an accident near Lolo Pass, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- September 22, 1985 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lolo Pass, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177BII · all 177BIIs on the register
- Registration
- N35105 · no longer on the register · serial 17702210
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT FAILED TO VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL TANKS DURING PREFLT AND DEPARTED WITH 3.4 HOURS FLOWN ON THE PRE-EXISTING FUEL SUPPLY. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED 1.2 HOURS INTO THE FLT. THE PLT OVERFLEW A SUITABLE FORCED LANDING SITE AND ATTEMPTED A LAST MINUTE TURN BACK TO THE SITE. THE ACFT STALLED IN A STEEP TURN AT LOW ALT, COLLIDING WITH TREES ON A STEEP DOWNSLOPE. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT FAILED TO DISCLOSE SIGNS OF FUEL BOTH IN THE ACFT AND ON THE TERRAIN SURROUNDINGTHE WRECKAGE. THE FUEL GAGES WERE KNOWN TO BE INACCURATE AND THE OPERATOR HAD A SIGN POSTED INSTRUCTING PLTS TO VISUALLYCHECK THE FUEL QUANTITY. ALSO, A SEPARATE FUEL CONSUMPTION LOG WAS KEPT FOR THE ACFT. THE REAR BENCH SEAT HAD THREE OCCUPANTS SEATED ON IT WITH ONE SEAT BELT UTILIZED FOR ALL THREE. THE BELT SEPARATED FROM THE FLOOR MOUNTS DURING THE ACCIDENT.
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: 400 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,937 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 1985; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Garfield WA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: S82 Kooskia ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:30 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N35105 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.