Cessna 177A accident near Palmyra, Wisconsin, August 2, 2024
On August 2, 2024 at about 7:20 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna 177A, registered N30433, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Palmyra, Wisconsin (Palmyra Muni airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing with gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2024 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Palmyra, Wisconsin · Palmyra Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177A, built 1968 · all 177As on the register
- Registration
- N30433 · registry record · serial 17701251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that while landing near touchdown, the airplane encountered an unexpected strong wind gust, and the airplane veered to the left of the runway. He then attempted a go-around by applying full engine power and removing carburetor heat. The airplane did not climb, bounced off the terrain, and impacted a stand of trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the student pilot was landing the airplane on runway 27 with wind from 330° at 5 knots (kts) and wind gusts greater than 10 kts.
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 landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 51 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,748 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 19, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09/2, 2,800 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from KBUU, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBUU 021915Z AUTO 01006KT 10SM SCT030 SCT039 BKN065 29/22 A2996 RMK AO2 T02880224 PWINO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 4, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Flying Club | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Recent Annual Inspection | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigation Photograph | PDF, 1 page · our copy | 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.