Cessna 177RG accident near Berkeley, Kentucky, September 3, 1988
On September 3, 1988 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N52655, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berkeley, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. 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
- September 3, 1988 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Berkeley, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N52655 · no longer on the register · serial 177RG1232
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED WITH 6 HRS OF FUEL ON BOARD. HE ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILINGS WHILE EN ROUTE, AND FLEW AT 3-500 FT AGL TO MAINTAIN VFR. ABOUT 3 HRS & 15 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LDG IN TREES. WHILE SECURING THE AIRPLANE, HE OBSERVED THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE 'LEFT' (TANK) POSITION INSTEAD OF IN THE 'BOTH' POSITION WHERE HE NORMALLY POSITIONED IT FOR FLIGHT. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE AIRPLANE AT THE SITE BY AN IA MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT TANK WAS COMPLETELY FULL OF FUEL. THE LEFT TANK WAS IMPACT DAMAGED & CONTAINED ONLY ABOUT A PINT OF FUEL. THE PLT NOTED THAT THE AIRPLANE FUEL GAUGES WERE NOT OPERATIONAL, AND THAT HE KEPT TRACK OF FUEL CONSUMPTION BY ELAPSED TIME AND KNOWN AVERAGE FUEL FLOW PER HOUR.
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
- Flight time: 705 hours in all; 228 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 650 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,068 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Springfield MO at 1:05 pm
- Destination: Hopkinsville KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 400 ft; not recorded at 400 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from PAH, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.