Cessna 177RG accident near Saluda, South Carolina, April 13, 1991
On April 13, 1991 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N1960Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saluda, South Carolina. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR DID NOT MAINTAIN THE PROPER ALTITUDE DURING THE SIMULATED FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1991 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Saluda, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N1960Q · no longer on the register · serial 177RG0360
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT THE STUDENT HAD BEEN PRACTICING GROUND REFERENCE MANEUVERS. THE INSTRUCTOR SIMULATED A FORCED LANDING SITUATION FOR THE STUDENT. AT THE POINT THAT THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND, THE AIRCRAFT HIT POWER LINES AND CRASHED INTO A FIELD.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 530 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 71 in the last 30 days; 425 as pilot in command; 210 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southeast Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Destination: AIK Aiken SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Observation at 3:50 pm from AGS, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.