Cessna 177B accident near Forest Lake, Minnesota, May 29, 2024
On May 29, 2024 at about 9:26 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 177B, registered N177GW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Forest Lake, Minnesota (Forest Lake airport). It was an instructional 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 flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and failure to maintain aircraft control during the simulated forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2024 · about 9:26 pm local time
- Place
- Forest Lake, Minnesota · Forest Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B, built 1976 · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N177GW · registry record · serial 17702481
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, he was demonstrating a power-off 180° simulated forced landing to the runway. Following a smooth landing, the airplane drifted to the right onto the grass. The right wheel was in the grass, and the airplane veered hard right towards a ditch. During the attempt to regain directional control, the airplane impacted a visual approach slope indicator (VASI) light. The flight instructor reported that he thought the pilot receiving instruction may have been on the flight controls during the attempted recovery. The flight instructor taxied the airplane to the parking area. According to the pilot receiving instruction, he and the flight instructor were practicing a power-off landing to the runway. The pilot reported that as the airplane neared the runway, he felt they were not at the right angle or approach to make a successful landing. The flight instructor advised the pilot to continue the landing. About 50 to 75 ft above the ground, the pilot did not think he could make the landing and transferred control to the flight instructor. During the landing, one wheel exited the runway surface, and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane struck a VASI light, and the flight instructor taxied the airplane to the ramp to inspect the damage. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilator and empennage. Both the flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The accident was reported to the National Transportation Safety Board on November 18, 2024.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,252 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days; 3,050 as pilot in command; 950 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 27, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 592 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 446 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 29, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,691 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 3, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 7,691 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANE Anoka MN at 8:28 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13/3, 2,700 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 4:26 pm from ANE, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): 292150Z 05003KT 10SM SCT050 22/08 A3018
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 3, 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 - Flight Instructor | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot Receiving Instruction | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | 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.
