Cessna 177 accident near Gordonville, Texas, August 23, 2014
On August 23, 2014 at about 3:15 pm local time, a 1967 Cessna 177, registered N3202T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Gordonville, Texas (Cedar Mills Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of directional control during a crosswind landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2014 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gordonville, Texas · Cedar Mills Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177, built 1967 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3202T · no longer on the register · serial 17700502
- 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 he flew a visual approach with a left crosswind to a turf runway. As the airplane descended below a tree line, the wind decreased, and the airplane drifted left during the landing roll. The pilot applied right rudder, but the airplane did not respond. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and impacted multiple trees. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. After the accident, the pilot stated that he believed the passenger's foot might have blocked the rudder pedals. The accident is consistent with a loss of directional control during a crosswind landing.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 289 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 110 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 25, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,966 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 3,108 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 30F Lake Dallas TX at 2:45 pm
- Destination: 3T0 Gordonville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KGYI, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 9, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Certification of Party Representative | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1 - Accident Airplane | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.