Cessna 177RG accident near Lansing, Illinois, August 6, 1983
On August 6, 1983, a Cessna 177RG, registered N53122, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lansing, Illinois (Lansing Municipal airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1983
- Place
- Lansing, Illinois · Lansing Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N53122 · no longer on the register · serial 177RG1350
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD JUST BEEN GIVEN AN ANNUAL INSPECTION & THE PLT WAS ON THE 1ST FLT BACK TO THE HOME ARPT. HE REPORTED THAT BEFORE TAKEOFF, HE NOTED THAT THE ENG WOULD NOT IDLE BELOW 850 RPM. HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE WITH THE FLT. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE TO ROTATE, BUT THE ACFT DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT WANTED TO FLY. THE PLT ELECTED TO ABORT BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY WITH THE HIGH IDLE RPM. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT A DITCH NEAR THE END OF THE RWY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ELEVATOR TRIM WAS IN THE FULL NOSE DOWN POSITION.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,044 hours in all; 339 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 878 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 352 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 1983; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: C56 Mouee IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,432 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.