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NTSB Report
April 7, 1988 · Cessna 177RG · N46316
Briceville, TN
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 7, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Briceville, TN
Aircraft
Cessna 177RG
Tail Number
N46316
Operator
Dave L Nicoll
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL88LA135
THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD DEPARTED COFFEYVILLE, KS ON APR 5 FOR AN AIRPLANE DELIVERY FERRY FLT TO LINCOLNTON, NC HE LANDED AT CAPE GIRARDEAU AND REMAINED OVERNIGHT DUE TO ENROUTE WEATHER. HE DEPTD CGI THE FOLLOWING MORNING FOLLOWING A WX BRIEF THAT INDICATED MARGINAL CONDITIONS IN THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE FLT. AFTER AN UPDATE, HE ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB OVER THE REPTD CLOUD TOPS OF 15,000 FT. AT 14,000 HE NOTED THE CLOUDS STILL ABOVE AND ELECTED TO FLY BETWEEN LAYERS. AFTER ENCOUNTERING A SOLID CLOUDBANK, HE FOUND A HOLE AND DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS. THE CLOUD BASES KEPT GETTING LOWER. AFTER ENTERING A VALLEY AND WHILE FLYING UP THE VALLEY, HE NOTED THE TREES WERE IN THE CLOUDS ALL AROUND. HE ENTERED A CLIMB AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AT 3,500 FT MSL. VFR MIN ALTITUDE FOR THE AREA WAS 3,900 FT.
Full Narrative
THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD DEPARTED COFFEYVILLE, KS ON APR 5 FOR AN AIRPLANE DELIVERY FERRY FLT TO LINCOLNTON, NC HE LANDED AT CAPE GIRARDEAU AND REMAINED OVERNIGHT DUE TO ENROUTE WEATHER. HE DEPTD CGI THE FOLLOWING MORNING FOLLOWING A WX BRIEF THAT INDICATED MARGINAL CONDITIONS IN THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE FLT. AFTER AN UPDATE, HE ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB OVER THE REPTD CLOUD TOPS OF 15,000 FT. AT 14,000 HE NOTED THE CLOUDS STILL ABOVE AND ELECTED TO FLY BETWEEN LAYERS. AFTER ENCOUNTERING A SOLID CLOUDBANK, HE FOUND A HOLE AND DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS. THE CLOUD BASES KEPT GETTING LOWER. AFTER ENTERING A VALLEY AND WHILE FLYING UP THE VALLEY, HE NOTED THE TREES WERE IN THE CLOUDS ALL AROUND. HE ENTERED A CLIMB AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AT 3,500 FT MSL. VFR MIN ALTITUDE FOR THE AREA WAS 3,900 FT.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:55 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 177RG
Tail NumberN46316
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDave L Nicoll
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A1B6D · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 28 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind225° @ 20 kt, gusting 25 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 37 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO