Cessna 177 accident near Fort Wayne, Indiana, May 15, 2018
On May 15, 2018 at about 6:55 pm local time, a 1967 Cessna 177, registered N9058F, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Fort Wayne, Indiana (Smith Field). 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 failure of the oil cooler due to a defect in the brazed joint, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to oil starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2018 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Wayne, Indiana · Smith Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177, built 1967 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N9058F · no longer on the register · serial 17700304
- 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 had departed on a local flight and leveled the airplane at 2,600 ft mean sea level when he observed a drop in engine rpm and heard a "thumping" sound from the engine. The pilot reversed course to return to the airport; the noise increased, he smelled burning oil, and the engine subsequently quit. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field, during which the nose landing gear collapsed and the wings sustained substantial damage. An examination of the airplane revealed no oil on the engine dipstick; however, oil was coming out of the oil cooler, and oil was visible on the right side of the cowling. Maintenance records indicated that the engine, including the oil cooler, was new and had been installed about 8 hours before the accident flight. An examination of the oil cooler revealed that the leak came from between the plates forming the oil circuit; it was likely due to a defect in the brazed joint between the plates. The engine lost power due to oil starvation.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Eng oil sys (airframe furnish) › Cooler › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,255 hours in all; 1,405 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 3,193 as pilot in command; 363 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 26, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,844 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 2018; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMD Fort Wayne IN at 6:53 pm
- Destination: SMD Fort Wayne IN
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from SMD, 2 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 23, 2020. 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, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 18-104 | PDF, 3 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.