NTSB Factual Report

On June 17, 2006, about 1205 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177B, N35058, collided with the ocean near Redwood City, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane incurred substantial damage. The personal local flight departed from Oakland International Airport, Oakland, California, at an undetermined time, with a planned destination of Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County, Palo Alto, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he had no recollection of the events that transpired during the accident. He cancelled flight following with the local air traffic controller, and noted the airplane's altitude as 1,300 feet. The last thing he remembered was reaching down to change radio frequencies, and then he was waist deep in water. He waited for the airplane to sink for a couple of minutes, but the water level never rose. He opened the door and exited the airplane, and was able to walk around until the Coast Guard arrived. The pilot was transported to the hospital with no injuries.

The Coast Guard pilot responding to the accident arrived about 6 minutes after receiving a call from a Coast Guard auxiliary boat that spotted the pilot in the water. The Coast Guard crew was about to perform a rescue demonstration at a local airshow when they received the call. The Coast Guard pilot noted that the airplane was upright and submerged in about 4 feet of water.

There was no follow-up inspections to the airframe or engine.

The pilot did not submit the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form 6120.1/2.

NTSB Probable Cause

A collision with water for undetermined reasons.