History of Flight
On February 8, 2021, about 1442 central standard time, a Cessna 177RG airplane, registration N8080G, was destroyed in an accident near Galt, Missouri. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to FlightAware data, the airplane had departed Saint Louis Downtown Airport (CPS) at 1051 and arrived at Omar N. Bradley Airport (MBY) in Moberly, Missouri, at 1157. Witnesses at MBY observed significant ice accumulation on the airplane after landing, with the windscreen completely obscured and ice about ¼ inch thick on other surfaces. They assisted the pilot by moving the airplane into a heated hangar to melt the ice and added 16.88 gallons of fuel. The pilot stated he would depart as soon as the airplane was deiced and declined recommendations to stay overnight, indicating he intended to fly north before turning west, with better weather to the north. He showed a weather map on his cell phone, the source of which was not determined. The pilot’s exact destination was unknown, but he planned to spend the night in Nebraska en route to Colorado.
No communication with air traffic control was recorded, and no flight plan was filed. ADS-B data and onboard avionics showed the accident flight departed MBY about 1410. The airplane flew north for about 30 miles, turned northwest for about 40 miles, then flew west-southwest until ADS-B data ended at 1440, about 6 miles northeast of the accident site. Recorded altitudes began at 1,100 ft msl, reached a maximum of 1,900 ft msl, and then gradually descended to 1,200 ft msl when data ended. Terrain elevation along the route ranged from about 750 to 950 ft msl; the accident site elevation was about 785 ft msl.
Meteorological Information
Instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions prevailed along the route with overcast clouds and visibility restricted by snow, mist, and haze. The National Weather Service Current Icing Products (CIP) indicated an icing probability of 45% to 65% at 1400, increasing to over 65% at 1500, with light-to-moderate intensity icing at 1,000 to 2,000 ft above ground level. The Graphic Forecast for Aviation (GFA) issued at 1301 and valid for 1500 expected surface winds from north-northeast at 5 to 10 knots, visibility less than 3 miles in light freezing drizzle and snow, and overcast clouds with bases at 1,700 ft msl and tops above 31,000 ft msl. There were no records of the pilot obtaining a weather briefing before the flight. The 1355 observation at MBY included wind from 030° at 9 knots, visibility 1 3/4 statute miles, scattered clouds at 600 ft agl, broken ceiling at 1,500 ft agl, overcast at 2,700 ft agl, temperature -12°C, dew point -16°C, and altimeter 30.20 inHg.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was located in a wooded area about 6 miles west of the last ADS-B point. Initial impact occurred with trees about 30 ft above the ground. The airplane was accounted for entirely at the site. Both wings and portions of the horizontal stabilizer separated at impact and were found near the initial impact point. The engine, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer were collocated about 200 ft south of that point. Damage and dispersion prevented determination of the airplane’s attitude at impact. Flight control continuity to the ailerons could not be verified due to impact damage; multiple separations in aileron control cables were consistent with overload. Continuity was verified to the rudder and elevator attach points. Postaccident examination revealed no engine anomalies that would have prevented normal power production. A JPI engine data module (EDM) 700/800 was recovered and downloaded; no anomalies were noted in the accident flight data.