OJAI, CA, USA
N17239
CESSNA 177B
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT ENTER A BOX CANYON IN LEVEL FLT AT AN ALT BELOW THE TOPS OF THE SURROUNDING RIDGES. THE ENG PWR SOUNDS WERE REPORTED AS 'NORMAL' BY THE WITNESSES. SHORTLY AFTER THE ACFT DISAPPEARED BEHIND A RIDGE, THE WITNESSES SAW BLACK SMOKE RISING FROM THE CANYON FLOOR. THE AREA OF THE CANYON WERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IS RELATIVELY NARROW, WITH STEEP SIDES AND A FLOOR WHICH RISES ABRUPTLY TO THE MOUNTAINS BEHIND. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED NOSE DOWN IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS FOR THE PLT TO EXAMINE THE WATER DRAINAGE IN THE CANYON.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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