Cessna 177 accident near Hazard, Kentucky, May 27, 1990
On May 27, 1990 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N3235T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hazard, Kentucky (East Kentucky Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND, WHEN AN UPDRAFT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO BE HIGH ON FINAL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1990 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hazard, Kentucky · East Kentucky Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3235T · registry record · serial 17700535
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DIVERTED TO AN AIRPORT DUE TO DETERIORATING WEATHER AT HIS DESTINATION. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, HE FELT AN UPDRAFT, AND THE AIRCRAFT GAINED ABOUT 150 FEET OF ALTITUDE. THE THROTTLE WAS RETARDED TO IDLE, AND THE FLAPS WERE PARTIALLY RAISED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE 3240 FOOT RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY, AND THE AIRPLANE ROLLED DOWN AN ADJACENT HILL AND CONTACTED A DITCH. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND RATHER THAN ACCEPT THE LONG LANDING. HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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: 198 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 122 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,275 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I14 Indianapolis IN at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 3,240 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.