Cessna 177 accident near Springfield, Kentucky, January 2, 1988
On January 2, 1988 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2906X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springfield, Kentucky (Lebanon-Springfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 1988 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Kentucky · Lebanon-Springfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2906X · no longer on the register · serial 17700306
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ONE WITNESS STATED THAT THE ENG MISFIRED DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, OTHERS STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 75 FT HIGH WHEN IT LOST POWER. THERE WERE SEVERAL INTERRUPTIONS OF POWER BEFORE IT QUIT TOTALLY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRFIELD. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A LEFT TURN. AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WAS BEING USED. WATER/ICE WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THE PILOT HAD COMPLAINED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ABOUT WATER IN THE FUEL. AUTOMOTIVE FUEL COULD NOT BE OBTAINED AT THE AIRPORT AND WAS CARRIED TO THE AIRPORT BY THE PILOT IN CONTAINERS FROM UNKNOWN SOURCES.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 880 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 786 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,740 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 23, 1987; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,275 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 612 at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from LEX, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.