Cessna 177 accident near Manlius, Illinois, September 17, 1992
On September 17, 1992 at about 2:12 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N30076, was destroyed in an accident near Manlius, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING A FORCED LANDING, AND HIS INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND POWER LOSS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1992 · about 2:12 pm local time
- Place
- Manlius, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N30076 · no longer on the register · serial 1770155
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AFTER FAILING TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING FOLLOWING AN IN-FLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE. ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION FOUND NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS, AND NO ODOR OF FUEL. THE PREVIOUS EVENING, AFTER REFUELING THE TANKS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS LEFT PARKED ON AN INCLINED RAMP. AS WARNED BY A SERVICE LETTER ISSUED IN 1969, THE AIRCRAFT LOST FUEL RESULTING FROM A CROSS-FEED CONDITION INTO THE LOWER WING FUEL BAY WHEN THE SELECTOR VALVE IS IN THE 'BOTH ON' POSITION. THIS CROSS-FEED CONDITION CAN RESULT IN OVERFILLING OF THE LOWER WING TANK AND CAUSE FUEL TO DRIP FROM THE LOWER WING TIP VENT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,535 hours in all; 1,465 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,660 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 29, 1992; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Grand Lake Air INC.
The flight
- Departed from: HHG Huntington IN
- Destination: CIN Carroll IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from MLI, 40 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.