Cessna 177RG accident near Mankato, Minnesota, July 17, 1988
On July 17, 1988 at about 9:45 am local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N2059Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mankato, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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
- July 17, 1988 · about 9:45 am local time
- Place
- Mankato, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N2059Q · no longer on the register · serial 177RG0429
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PILOT LEVELED OFF AT HIS INTENDED CRUISE ALTITUDE, HE NOTED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, THEN SAW OIL SPREAD UP OVER THE WINDSHIELD, RESTRICTING HIS VISIBILITY. THE PILOT PERFORMED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, AND BEGAN DESCENDING TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT AND DESCENDED THROUGH SOME TREES BEFORE MAKING A FORCED LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE LOSS OF OIL WAS DETERMINED TO BE DUE TO A CRACKED PROPELLER GOVERNOR OIL TUBE THROUGH WHICH OIL WAS PUMPED OVERBOARD.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 786 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 632 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,975 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 1988; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airlake Aero, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Y12 Lakeville MN at 9:10 am
- Destination: BFF Scottsbluff NE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from RST, 55 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.