Cessna 177RG accident near Pedricktown, New Jersey, July 6, 2007
On July 6, 2007 at about 8:04 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N52650, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pedricktown, New Jersey (Spitfire Aerodrome airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The first pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, and water contamination of the airplane's fuel system. A factor contributing to the accident was rough/uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2007 · about 8:04 pm local time
- Place
- Pedricktown, New Jersey · Spitfire Aerodrome
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N52650 · registry record · serial 177RG1230
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The first pilot, an airline transport pilot, reported that the second pilot, a private pilot, had just purchased the accident airplane, but did not yet possess the required high performance logbook endorsements needed to operate the airplane. The accident occurred as the pair were ferrying the airplane to the second pilot's home airport. According to the first pilot, both of the airplane's wing-mounted fuel tanks were filled to capacity just before departure. During his subsequent preflight inspection, the first pilot obtained fuel samples from the airplane's fuel sump drain ports, and none of the fuel samples contained any contaminates or water. The second pilot was flying the airplane, and just after takeoff, about 500 feet agl, all engine power was lost. The first pilot took control of the airplane in an attempt to re-establish engine power, but his attempts were unsuccessful, and he selected an open field as a forced landing site. During the emergency landing the airplane collided with rough and uneven terrain, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident scene on the accident date, and reported that he drained about 4 ounces of water from the airplane's left fuel tank and gascolator. He said that the airplane's gascolator contained a sandy, gritty white substance. The airplane's fuel injector screen also contained trace amounts of rusty-colored water. The engine was subsequently started and it produced full power. The FAA inspector also reported that the airplane had been stored outside before the accident, and that heavy rains had been reported in the area 2 or 3 days before the accident. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were discovered during the inspector's postaccident inspection.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 19,913 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,549 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2007; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B-6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7N7 Pedricktown NJ at 8:04 pm
- Destination: LBX Angleton/Lake J TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,419 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from PHL, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.