Cessna 177B accident near Kokomo, Indiana, September 12, 1990
On September 12, 1990 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N35014, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kokomo, Indiana. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE RECOVERING FROM A LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF AN INEXPERIENCED PILOT BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, AND LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION BY THE SECOND PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 1990 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kokomo, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N35014 · registry record · serial 17702158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SECOND PILOT WHO WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED WAS FLYING UNDER THE HOOD IN VMC CONDITIONS AT 6000 FEET ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT-IN-COMMAND TOLD HIM TO TURN RIGHT TO AVOID A THUNDERSTORM. THE SECOND PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED IN THE TURN, AND ENTERED A SPIRALLING DESCENT INTO IMC CONDITIONS. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TOOK CONTROL AND OVERSTRESSED THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE RECOVERY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN TO THE INTENDED DESTINATION AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. WING DEFORMATION AND BENT SPAR WAS DISCOVERED ON PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BEFORE THE NEXT FLIGHT.
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: 700 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 96 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 545 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 1990; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JXN Jackson MI at 8:30 pm
- Destination: I14 Indianapolis IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from GUS, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.