Cessna 177B accident near Seymour, Indiana, December 7, 2010
On December 7, 2010 at about 3:30 am local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N888VM, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Seymour, Indiana (Aerobatic Practice Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taking off with a gusting wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 2010 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Seymour, Indiana · Aerobatic Practice Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N888VM · registry record · serial 17702021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during takeoff from a snow-covered runway at a private airstrip, the airplane encountered a wind gust before striking a fence on the east side of the runway. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff and the airplane landed uneventfully at another airport approximately 5 miles from the private airstrip. The pilot reported that the wind was from 270 degrees at 10 knots and gusting to 15 knots. Examination of the airplane revealed the outboard 8 to 10 inches of the left stabilator was separated.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,950 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2,950 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 16, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 45IN North Vernon IN at 3:20 am
- Destination: SER Seymour IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN11CA123.