N34207

Substantial
Minor

CESSNA 177S/N: 17701705

Accident Details

Date
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
NTSB Number
GAA17CA274
Location
Frankston, TX
Event ID
20170511X84152
Coordinates
32.081665, -95.452499
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s loss of runway visibility during landing in rain, which resulted in the pilot’s loss of situational awareness and subsequent loss of airplane control.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N34207
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
17701705
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1972
Model / ICAO
177C177
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SALE REPORTED
Address
PO BOX 25565
Status
Deregistered
City
SHAWNEE MISSION
State / Zip Code
KS 66225-5565
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that he made an approach to a grass airstrip in light rain conditions with mist. During the landing flair, the airplane encountered a rain shower and the pilot's visibility was obscured. The pilot commenced the landing but he lost visibility of the runway. The airplane touched down left of the runway centerline and veered off the left side of the runway. He recalled that, "By the time I was aware of my position it was not possible to correct," and the airplane impacted the trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wing spars and engine mounts.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA17CA274