Cessna 177B accident near Jennings, Louisiana, April 7, 2015
On April 7, 2015 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N30981, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Jennings, Louisiana (Jennings airport). 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 pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, the nosewheel tire bursting, and a subsequent porpoise and nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2015 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jennings, Louisiana · Jennings · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N30981 · no longer on the register · serial 17701581
- 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 cross-country flight. The pilot reported that he was attempting to land at the airport to fuel the airplane before continuing to his destination. Upon landing, the main wheels touched down, followed by the nosewheel touching down hard. The pilot stated that he believed that the nosewheel tire then blew and that the decompressing nose strut caused the airplane to porpoise. He stated that the airplane then stalled and came down on its nosewheel. The airplane slid down the runway off into the grass and then nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical difficulties with the airplane.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tire casing › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,195 hours in all; 31 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 15, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,574 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O360-A1F6 (piston); 3,520 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACT Waco TX at 2:00 pm
- Destination: PGD Punta Gorda FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,601 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from 3R7
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on March 8, 2016. 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, 9 pages | 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.