Cessna 177RG accident near Valdosta, Georgia, September 10, 1993
On September 10, 1993 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N2074Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valdosta, Georgia. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE EVALUATION OF INFLIGHT WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE INFLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH SEVERE TURBULENCE AND SUBSEQUENT OVERSTRESS OF THE AIRFRAME.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1993 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Valdosta, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N2074Q · registry record · serial 177RG000474
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE AT 7500 FEET, THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID FLYING INTO CLOUDS. AS HE MANEUVERED HE ENTERED AN AREA OF SEVERE TURBULENCE WHERE THE AIRPLANE LOST ABOUT 4000 FEET. THE PILOT RECALLED HEARING THE AIRFRAME POP AND FELT THE AIRFRAME TWIST. AFTER REGAINING CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT NOTICED SOME DEFORMATION TO THE WING ASSEMBLY AND AIRFRAME. AFTER DETERMINING THE DAMAGE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT. UPON ARRIVING, THE PILOT DISCOVERED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT EXTEND. AN OFF RUNWAY EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A GRASSY AREA PARALLEL TO THE SOUTHWEST RUNWAY. DURING A SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATION WITH THE PILOT, HE REPORTED THAT HE ENTERED THE AREA OF TURBULENCE ABOUT ONE MILE FROM A CLOUD BUILD UP; VISUAL WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED BELOW THE BROKEN CLOUD LAYERS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 518 hours in all; 142 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 419 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 24, 1992; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4A7 Hampton GA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: COI Cocoa Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft; not recorded at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from VLD, 200 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL93LA154.