Cessna 177RG accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 1, 1986
On August 1, 1986 at about 6:02 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N52476, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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 1, 1986 · about 6:02 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N52476 · registry record · serial 177RG1197
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE IFR FLT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE DURING THE LANDING APCH TO THE DESTINATION APRT IN OSHKOSH, WI, AND THE PLT DITCHED THE ACFT IN LAKE WINNEBAGO. EXAM OF THE ACFT SHOWED THAT THE ENG FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT REPORTED THERE WERE 60 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD AT TAKEOFF. THE DITCHING OCCURRED 4 HOURS AND 32 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF. THE MANUFACTURER'S FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATION WAS 10.8 GPH FOR THE ACFT IN CRUISE FLT AT 5,000 FT MSL USING 75 PERCENT POWER WITH THE MIXTURE LEANED TO PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE FUEL/AIR RATIO.
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: 784 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 675 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 821 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 1985; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D75 Lakeville NY at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 6,166 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from OSH, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.