Plane Crash List

Cessna 177 N3345T

12 May 1991 · Decatur, Indiana, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 12 May 1991 at about 18:15 local time, a Cessna 177 registered N3345T, operated by Clark Smith/ Ralph Biggs, was involved in an accident near Decatur, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 18:15
Classification
Accident
Location
Decatur, Indiana, United States
Nearest airport
Gage (C42)
Coordinates
40.8308, -84.9196
Aircraft
Cessna 177
Registration
N3345T
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Clark Smith/ Ralph Biggs
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CHI91LA153

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

FAILURE TO OBTAIN AIRSPEED FOR POSITIVE LIFT OFF AND CLIMB. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A GRASS/SOD RUNWAY AND A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM THE SHORT, SOD STRIP, THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO ATTAIN POSITIVE LIFT OFF/CLIMB SPEED AND SETTLED BACK TO THE TERRAIN. THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 84 DEGREES, AND THE VEGETATION ON THE RUNWAY WAS ABOUT 5 TO 6 INCHES TALL. THE HORIZONTAL STABILATOR SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST ACCIDNET INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 177 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
31 Jul 1991 Cessna 177
N8067G
Scottsdale, Arizona, United States Michael P. Turner Minor injuries -
22 May 1991 Cessna 177
N548EC
New Lothrop, Michigan, United States Patrick J. Corcoran No injuries -
25 Jul 1991 Cessna 177RG
N8071
Ashland, Kentucky, United States National Aviation Inc. No injuries -
28 Sep 1991 Cessna 177B
N34980
Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Gaylin M. Allen No injuries -
9 Dec 1991 Cessna 177
N2961X
Elkhart, Indiana, United States Frank G. Fisher No injuries -
19 Oct 1991 Cessna 177B
N29308
London, Kentucky, United States Aerotech Inc No injuries -

All 1,744 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Oct 1991 Beechcraft 95
N1309Z
Elkhart, Indiana, United States
no coordinates
William E. Woodill No injuries -
15 Oct 1991 Mooney M20K
N3947H
Knox, Indiana, United States Northern Harvest Furniture, Inc No injuries -
18 Oct 1991 Aerostar RX-8
N357OK
Warsaw, Indiana, United States Henry J. & Marcille Cripe Serious injuries -
28 May 1991 Gulfstream American AA1A
N5675L
Evansville, Indiana, United States Fireside Gallery, Inc. Serious injuries -
23 Oct 1991 McDonnell Douglas MD369D
N88SE
Beech Grove, Indiana, United States Miami Valley Services No injuries -
6 Jun 1991 Cessna 310L
N3337X
Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States Edward C. Hartung No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States