Flight History
The Cessna 177RG departed the airport and proceeded in a northeasterly direction, climbing to approximately 3,500 feet msl. About 8 minutes before the accident, the airplane began a descent. It circled the airport once and turned onto final approach approximately 3/4 mile from and about 300 feet above the runway threshold.
Accident Sequence
The airplane touched down at the start of the runway, slightly left of centerline, traveling at approximately 64 knots ground speed. It then encountered a "heavy gust of wind" from the left, crossed over the centerline, and departed the right side of the runway about 1,000 feet from the touchdown point while traveling at approximately 52 knots. The landing was aborted; however, the airplane did not clear a tree line about 480 feet southeast of the runway. At approximately 55 knots, the airplane impacted 50-foot tall trees and then came to rest on the ground inverted.
Aircraft Examination
Examination of the airplane revealed the flaps were retracted, and no preimpact failures or malfunctions were identified. The Cessna 177RG Pilot's Operating Handbook calls for 20 degrees of flaps and 65 knots indicated airspeed while executing a balked landing.