Cessna 177RG accident near Marietta, Ohio, June 7, 2010
On June 7, 2010 at about 2:34 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N2016Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Marietta, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the No. 2 cylinder attachment fasteners as a result of improper engine overhaul practices.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2010 · about 2:34 pm local time
- Place
- Marietta, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N2016Q · no longer on the register · serial 177RG0416
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a cross-country flight, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power when the No. 2 cylinder, piston, and connecting rod separated from the engine. The pilot reported that the airplane had insufficient altitude to reach the nearest airport, and a forced landing was made into an agricultural field. A postaccident metallurgical examination revealed multiple fatigue fractures of the attachment fasteners used to secure the No. 2 cylinder to the crankcase. The observed fatigue was the result of an insufficient fastener preload. The engine had accumulated 519 hours since the last major overhaul. Review of the engine logbook established that there were no maintenance actions completed to the No. 2 cylinder, piston, or connecting rod since the last overhaul. Therefore, the insufficient fastener preload was likely due to improper overhaul practices during the last engine overhaul.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,809 hours in all; 820 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,672 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 27, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,482 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KUMP Indianapolis IN at 12:45 pm
- Destination: KJGG Williamsburg VA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KPKB, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.