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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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May 2, 1983 · Cessna 177B · N34581

Port Aransas, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 2, 1983
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Port Aransas, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 177B
Tail Number
N34581
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW83LA215

DURING A WX BRIEFING, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS TOLD TO EXPECT NO SIGNIFICANT EN ROUTE WX, BUT WAS ADVISED OF LOWER CEILINGS ALONG THE COASTLINE, LATER THAT NIGHT. THERE WERE NO RECORDS OF EN ROUTE WX BRIEFINGS. WHEN THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 40 MI NORTHWEST OF THE DESTINATION, THE PLT CONTACTED CORPUS CHRISTI APCH CONTROL & WAS ADVISED OF IFR WX IN THE VICINITY. HE REQUESTED & WAS PROVIDED RADAR VECTORS TO HIS DESTINATION, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN FINDING THE ARPT. THE PLT THEN REPORTED THAT HE WAS 'UNABLE TO GET DOWN' & REQUESTED VECTORS TO CORPUS CHRISTI. HE WAS AGAIN ADVISED OF IFR CONDITIONS AT CORPUS CHRISTI. WHEN ASKED IF HE COULD FLY AN IFR APCH, HE GAVE A NEGATIVE REPLY. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN IFR CONDITIONS & HAD INSUFFICIENT FUEL TO FLY TO SAN ANTONIO. SUBSEQUENTLY, RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST APRX 2 MI SOUTHEAST OF THE ARPT. LATER, BOTH OCCUPANTS & ACFT DEBRIS WERE FOUND WHERE THE HAD WASHED ON OR NEAR THE SHORE FORM THE GULF OF MEXICO.

Full Narrative

DURING A WX BRIEFING, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS TOLD TO EXPECT NO SIGNIFICANT EN ROUTE WX, BUT WAS ADVISED OF LOWER CEILINGS ALONG THE COASTLINE, LATER THAT NIGHT. THERE WERE NO RECORDS OF EN ROUTE WX BRIEFINGS. WHEN THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 40 MI NORTHWEST OF THE DESTINATION, THE PLT CONTACTED CORPUS CHRISTI APCH CONTROL & WAS ADVISED OF IFR WX IN THE VICINITY. HE REQUESTED & WAS PROVIDED RADAR VECTORS TO HIS DESTINATION, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN FINDING THE ARPT. THE PLT THEN REPORTED THAT HE WAS 'UNABLE TO GET DOWN' & REQUESTED VECTORS TO CORPUS CHRISTI. HE WAS AGAIN ADVISED OF IFR CONDITIONS AT CORPUS CHRISTI. WHEN ASKED IF HE COULD FLY AN IFR APCH, HE GAVE A NEGATIVE REPLY. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN IFR CONDITIONS & HAD INSUFFICIENT FUEL TO FLY TO SAN ANTONIO. SUBSEQUENTLY, RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST APRX 2 MI SOUTHEAST OF THE ARPT. LATER, BOTH OCCUPANTS & ACFT DEBRIS WERE FOUND WHERE THE HAD WASHED ON OR NEAR THE SHORE FORM THE GULF OF MEXICO.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:50 CDT
Nearest AirportMustang Beach (2nm ESE)
Runway30
Runway Length3500 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 177B
Tail NumberN34581
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1F6 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 47 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind170° @ 20 kt, gusting 26 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingOvercast 700 ft
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data