Cessna 177B accident near Westminster, Maryland, September 15, 1986
On September 15, 1986 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N34251, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westminster, Maryland (Clearview airport). It was a personal 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 1986 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Westminster, Maryland · Clearview · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N34251 · no longer on the register · serial 17701735
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FIVE INCHES OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE TIP SEPARATED DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 3,500 FT MSL. THE IMBALANCE RESULTED IN A SEVERE VIBRATION AND A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, THE PLT SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING AT CLEARVIEW AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN MIDWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, CONTINUED OFF THE END, CONTACTED A DITCH AND NOSED OVER.
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: 473 hours in all; 221 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 429 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 1986; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M54 Charleston WV at 5:50 pm
- Destination: LNS Lancaster PA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13, 1,830 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from BWI, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.