Cessna 177 accident near Decatur, Indiana, May 12, 1991
On May 12, 1991 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N3345T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decatur, Indiana (Gage airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE TO OBTAIN AIRSPEED FOR POSITIVE LIFT OFF AND CLIMB. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A GRASS/SOD RUNWAY AND A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 1991 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Decatur, Indiana · Gage · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3345T · registry record · serial 17700645
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM THE SHORT, SOD STRIP, THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO ATTAIN POSITIVE LIFT OFF/CLIMB SPEED AND SETTLED BACK TO THE TERRAIN. THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 84 DEGREES, AND THE VEGETATION ON THE RUNWAY WAS ABOUT 5 TO 6 INCHES TALL. THE HORIZONTAL STABILATOR SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST ACCIDNET INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,100 ft; not recorded at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:50 pm from FWA, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.