Cessna 177B accident near Georgetown, Texas, July 20, 2014
On July 20, 2014 at about 8:40 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 177B, registered N5511B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown Muni 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 improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2014 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, Texas · Georgetown Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B, built 1973 · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5511B · no longer on the register · serial 17702048
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was conducting a personal flight and attempting to land the airplane. A witness reported seeing the airplane bounce during the landing. During the second touchdown, the airplane's nose was aligned left of the runway centerline. The pilot then lost directional control of the airplane, which subsequently exited the left side of the runway, flipped, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical fin, rudder, empennage, fuselage, and wing. The right door was jammed from the impact damage, and the pilot and passenger exited the inverted airplane through the left door. An examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preaccident mechanical deficiencies 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Cabin safety event during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine sea
- Flight time: 63 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 20 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 21, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,243 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 2014; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 3,680 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNC Lancaster TX at 7:30 pm
- Destination: GTU Georgetown TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,004 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 8:40 pm from KGTU
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.