Cessna 177B accident near Collegedale, Tennessee, March 15, 1995
On March 15, 1995 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N35138, was destroyed in an accident near Collegedale, Tennessee (Collegedale Municipal airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE MECHANIC'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW APPROVED ENGINE OVERHAUL PROCEDURES WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEPARATION OF THE OIL RETURN LINE, AND THE COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 1995 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Collegedale, Tennessee · Collegedale Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N35138 · no longer on the register · serial 17702227
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRPLANE, AND OVERHAULED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE ENGINE WAS INSTALLED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. DURING THE ENGINE INSTALLATION THE MECHANIC FAILED TO INSTALL NEW PARTS AS DIRECTED BY A MANDATORY SERVICE BULLETIN. AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD OF GROUND OPERATION, THE PILOT DEPARTED FOR A TEST FLIGHT. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE ENGINE LOST OIL PRESSURE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ESTABLISHED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT FOR A FORCED LANDING AT COLLEGEDALE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN 50 FEET SHORT OF RUNWAY 03. A FILM OF ENGINE OIL WAS DISCOVERED OVER THE AIRCRAFT SKIN AFT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION ALSO DISCLOSED THAT THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE SEPARATED AT THE METAL FITTING. ACCORDING TO THE INSTALLATION MECHANIC, THE OWNER DECIDED NOT TO INSTALL NEW HOSES AS PRESCRIBED BY A MANDATORY SERVICE BULLETIN.
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: 1,811 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,696 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 1994; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Mcdonald TN at 8:40 pm
- Destination: 9A5 Lafayette GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 4,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from CHA, 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.