Cessna 177 accident near Canton, Illinois, April 26, 1986
On April 26, 1986 at about 6:28 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2285Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Canton, Illinois (Ingersoll airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- April 26, 1986 · about 6:28 pm local time
- Place
- Canton, Illinois · Ingersoll · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2285Y · registry record · serial 17700085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT SHEARED THE NOSE GEAR IN A FORCED LANDING OFF ARPT IN A PARTIALLY CULTIVATED FIELD. THE ACFT HAD LOST POWER AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL DURING TAKEOFF. THE PLT SAID THAT HE CHECKED THE MIXTURE, THROTTLE, FUEL SELECTOR AND TURNED ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. THE ENG CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER AND A LANDING WAS MADE. AFTER THE ACC THE CARBURETOR WAS REMOVED AND TESTED. THE ONLY QUESTIONABLE AREA WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF A SATURATED & HEAVY COMPOSITE FLOAT DUE TO USE OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 922 hours in all; 754 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 711 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,805 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 1985; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3MY Peoria IL at 5:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.