Cessna 177RG accident near Rockford, Illinois, March 18, 1989
On March 18, 1989 at about 10:38 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N52634, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockford, Illinois (Greater Rockford airport). It was a personal 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 INADEQUATE SERVICING OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR MANUALLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 1989 · about 10:38 pm local time
- Place
- Rockford, Illinois · Greater Rockford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N52634 · registry record · serial 177RG1219
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE ROLLOUT OF A FULL STOP LANDING. THE HYDRAULIC POWER PACK UNIT HAD BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. THIS WAS ONLY THE SECOND FLIGHT AND SECOND LANDING SINCE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE UNIT. THE HYDRAULIC RESERVOIR WAS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN HALF FULL. GEAR OPERATION COULD NOT BE OBTAINED IN A FUNCTIONAL TEST WITH THE HYDRAULICFLUID LEVEL EXISTENT IN RESERVOIR. NORMAL GEAR FUNCTION WAS OBTAINED AFTER RESERVOIR WAS SERVICED TO OPERATING CAPACITY.
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
- Flight time: 111 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 62 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,190 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1988; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MWC Milwaukee WI at 10:00 pm
- Destination: RFD Rockford IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from RFD
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.