Cessna 177RG accident near Corry, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1993
On March 23, 1993 at about 5:45 am local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N7747V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corry, Pennsylvania (Corry-Lawrence airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, THE PILOT'S LACK OF VISUAL CUES DUE TO THE RUNWAY LIGHTS BEING OBSCURED BY THE PLOWED SNOW, AND FAILURE OF AIRPORT PERSONNEL TO ISSUE A NOTAM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 1993 · about 5:45 am local time
- Place
- Corry, Pennsylvania · Corry-Lawrence · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N7747V · no longer on the register · serial 177RG0908
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IT WAS A DARK NIGHT, AND HE WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS FROM THE RIGHT SEAT TOWARDS ATTAINING HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE. HE STATED THAT HE MADE A NORMAL APPROACH AND TOUCHDOWN ON THE CENTERLINE, BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A SNOWBANK OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY HAD 1 HOUR OF DUAL FROM THE RIGHT SEAT. THE RUNWAY HAD BEEN PLOWED 70 FEET OF THE 75 FOOT WIDTH, WITH THE RUNWAY SURFACE GENERALLY BARE. THE PLOWED SNOW WAS APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 FEET HIGH, AND WAS PLACED BETWEEN THE EDGES OF THE RUNWAY AND THE ROW OF RUNWAY LIGHTS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 416 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 309 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ERI Erie PA at 4:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 am from ERI, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.