Cessna 177B accident near Lakeview, Arkansas, July 15, 2012
On July 15, 2012 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna 177B, registered N34468, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Lakeview, Arkansas (Gastons Airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2012 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeview, Arkansas · Gastons Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B B, built 1972 · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N34468 · registry record · serial 17701825
- 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, although he needed to apply a little more power than normal while taxiing, the engine performed normally during the engine run-up. He stated that the airplane did not gain sufficient groundspeed during the takeoff roll to become airborne, and he waited too long to abort the takeoff. The airplane traveled off the end of the runway and down an embankment, resulting in substantial damage to the aft fuselage. The pilot stated that he did not notice a loss of engine rpm during the takeoff and that he had little experience operating on grass airstrips. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 449 hours in all; 449 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 449 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,114 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 2012; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3M0 Lakeview AR at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 7M5 Ozark AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,200 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from SGF, 70 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.