Cessna 177 N3477T accident near San Diego/El Cajon, California

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in his exceedance of the airplane's maximum gross weight, which lead to the airplane's poor climb performance, and a subsequent loss of control and impact with terrain.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, while departing on a cross-country flight from the 2,738-ft-long runway, the engine lost partial power about 100 ft above ground level during the initial climb. He lowered the airplane's nose, which appeared to restore engine power, then raised the nose again as the airplane approached the end of the runway. The engine then experienced a "severe" loss of power and the airplane subsequently impacted a dirt field at the departure end of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and review of data from the onboard engine monitor revealed that the engine was producing full power throughout the takeoff.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector spoke to several witnesses who saw the pilot fill a truck bed with belongings from the accident airplane, including wooden crates full of avocados. The pilot confirmed that he had a "substantial amount" of cargo on board, and that he did not calculate the airplane's weight and balance for the flight.

Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot's inadequate preflight planning resulted in his exceedance of the airplane's maximum gross weight, which lead to the the airplane's poor climb performance, the perceived loss of engine power, and the subsequent loss of control and impact with terrain.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR18LA205 for the full record.