Cessna 177B accident near Rocky Junction, Arizona, February 22, 2026
On February 22, 2026, a 1975 Cessna 177B, registered N12984, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Rocky Junction, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 2026
- Place
- Rocky Junction, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B, built 1975 · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N12984 · registry record · serial 17702394
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 21, 2026, 1746 Mountain standard time, a Cessna 177B airplane, N12984, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rocky Junction, Arizona. The pilot and passenger sustain minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91personal flight. The pilot reported that during departure at about 6,500ft msl (means sea level) the engine loss total power. The pilot observed one of the cylinder head temperatures was over 460 degrees. The pilot turned on the fuel boost pumps, changed fuel tanks but was unable to restart the engine. The pilot made a forced landing into remote hilly terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. A postaccident examination of the wreckage is pending the recovery of the aircraft.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Go Fly Az LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PAN Payson AZ
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from KIWA, 70 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KIWA 220350Z 35006KT 10SM CLR 15/M05 A3020
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC26LA016.