Cessna 177B accident near Acme, Michigan, January 20, 1990
On January 20, 1990 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N34860, was substantially damaged in an accident near Acme, Michigan (Acme Skyport airport). It was an instructional 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 STUDENT PILOT MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE TO THE RUNWAY, AND THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) FAILED TO ATTAIN REMEDIAL ACTION, WHICH RESULTED IN THEIR FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CFI'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION AND THE SNOWBANK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 20, 1990 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Acme, Michigan · Acme Skyport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N34860 · registry record · serial 17702051
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR & STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT THEY WERE PRACTICING A NO FLAP APPROACH, WHEN THE AIRPLANE SETTLED TO THE GROUND EARLIER THAN INTENDED AND COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BANK BEFORE REACHING THE RUNWAY. THE WHEEL FROM THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR CAME OFF, WHEN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE SNOWBANK. THE AIRPLANE THEN SETTLED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE AND VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY. THE CFI HAD 41 HOURS TOTAL EXPERIENCE AS A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 923 hours in all; 16 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,320 ft by 130 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Observation at 8:45 pm from TVC, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.