Cessna 177 accident near Greensboro, North Carolina, May 16, 1991
On May 16, 1991 at about 2:50 am local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2314Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greensboro, North Carolina (Piedmont Triad Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAGNETO GROUNDING LEAD RESULTING IN A 'HOT MAGNETO' CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1991 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- Greensboro, North Carolina · Piedmont Triad Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2314Y · no longer on the register · serial 17700114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ENGINE START, THE PILOT OBSERVED THE STARTER OPERATING, BUT NOT ENGAGING THE ENGINE. HE TURNED OFF THE MAGNETOS AND BATTERY AND EXITED THE AIRPLANE TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. HE DID NOT CHOCK OR SECURE THE AIRPLANE. HE TURNED THE PROPELLER SOME, THEN BEGAN TO WALK AWAY. THE ENGINE THEN 'ROARED TO LIFE.' THE AIRPLANE PROCEEDED ACROSS THE RAMP AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED BEECH 77. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAG WOULD NOT GROUND OUT WITH THE SWITCH, RESULTING IN A 'HOT MAG' CONDITION.
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: 350 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SHD Harrisonburg VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 310° at 16 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:00 am from GSO, 10 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.