Cessna 177 accident near Petersburg, Virginia, February 6, 1988
On February 6, 1988 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N313AC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Petersburg, Virginia (Petersburg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 6, 1988 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Petersburg, Virginia · Petersburg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N313AC · registry record · serial 177000772
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAND-PROPPED THE ENGINE WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO START IT USING THE STARTER. THE ACFT HAD JUST BEEN REFUELED AND IT WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE FUEL PUMPS. THE PLT PUSHED THE ACFT AWAY FROM THE PUMPS BEFORE HE TRIED TO HAND-PROP IT. AFTER THE THIRD HAND-PROP ATTEMPT THE ENGINE STARTED. AS HE TRIED TO BOARD THE ACFT IT MOVED FORWARD AND HE WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY THE LANDING GEAR. THE ACFT MOVED AHEAD UNTIL IT STRUCK A PIPER ARROW THAT WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE FUEL PUMPS.
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: 856 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 805 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1987; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.