Cessna 177 accident near Elkhart, Indiana, December 9, 1991
On December 9, 1991 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2961X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elkhart, Indiana (Mishawaka airport). It was a personal 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
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 1991 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Elkhart, Indiana · Mishawaka · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2961X · registry record · serial 17700361
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF WHILE STILL OVER THE RUNWAY. HE SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED ON THE RUNWAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP PRIOR TO OVERRUNNING THE END AND STRIKING TREES. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT REPORTED AT SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, WERE 39 AND 33 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, THESE TEMPERATURES ARE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND SUCCESSFULLY RUN POST ACCIDENT WITH NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES NOTED.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,461 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 11, 1991; 11 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 21, 2,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.