Cessna 177RG accident near Ellamore, West Virginia, February 21, 1988
On February 21, 1988 at about 3:38 am local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N2109Q, was destroyed in an accident near Ellamore, West Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- February 21, 1988 · about 3:38 am local time
- Place
- Ellamore, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N2109Q · no longer on the register · serial 177RG0509
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APRX 3 HRS AND 26 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF FROM REPUBLIC AIRPORT, THE PLT REPORTED HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO AN AIRPORT, THE PLT RADIOED THAT HE WAS GOING TO ATTEMPT TO LAND ON A ROAD. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AND CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA APRX 100 FT FROM THE ROAD. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/ MALFUNCTION. THE LEFT FUEL TANK OPENED UP DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE AND SEARCH/RESCUE PERSONNEL REPORTED NO ODOR OF FUEL UPON REACHING THE ACCIDENT SITE. ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 540 hours in all; 245 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 423 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY
- Destination: CRW Charleston WV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 250° at 13 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 am from CKB, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.