Cessna 177RG accident near Ashland, Kentucky, July 25, 1991
On July 25, 1991 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N8071, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ashland, Kentucky (Ashland-Boyd County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOST OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1991 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ashland, Kentucky · Ashland-Boyd County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N8071 · registry record · serial 177RG0071
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 300 FEET AGL, SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS BEYOND GLIDING DISTANCE TO LAND, SO HE DITCHED THE AIRPLANE IN THE UNDERLYING WATERS OF THE OHIO RIVER. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DISCLOSE MECHANICAL DEFECT OF THE ENGINE. ABOUT 15 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS IN EACH 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,499 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 5,311 as pilot in command; 4,663 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,788 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 1990; 2,788 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: National Aviation INC.
The flight
- Destination: HTS Huntington WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 5,603 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.