Cessna 177B accident near Shell Knob, Missouri, September 1, 2024
On September 1, 2024 at about 6:10 pm local time, a 1970 Cessna 177B, registered N30853, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Shell Knob, Missouri (Discovery Bay Airport At Norwa). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control and airspeed during final approach, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2024 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Shell Knob, Missouri · Discovery Bay Airport At Norwa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B, built 1970 · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N30853 · registry record · serial 17701504
- 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 while on final approach, he was losing altitude faster than expected and the airspeed was slow. He added power so he could make the runway. The airplane subsequently pitched up, and the pilot lost sight of the runway. He added power and pitched the airplane’s nose down in an attempt to avoid a stall. As soon as he pitched the nose down, the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest inverted, and the right wing and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 221 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 153 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 17, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,369 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 A1F6 (piston); 2,969 hours total
- Operator: Quad City Area Flying Eagles INC
The flight
- Departed from: M17 Bolivar MO at 5:25 pm
- Destination: MO06 Shell Knob MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 020, 1,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 12:45 pm from KBBG, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBBG 011745Z 14004KT 10SM BKN018 BKN023 25/23 A3014
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 10, 2025. 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 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · 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.