Cessna 177 accident near Napoleon, Michigan, June 25, 1992
On June 25, 1992, a Cessna 177, registered N2888X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Napoleon, Michigan (Napolean airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADVERTENT STALL ON TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1992
- Place
- Napoleon, Michigan · Napolean · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2888X · no longer on the register · serial 17700288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT ABORTED HIS FIRST TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 27, A 2575 FOOT GRASS RUNWAY. ON SECOND ATTEMPT, AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE. WITNESSES DESCRIBED AIRCRAFT AS 'FLYING IN GROUND EFFECT,' AND 'APPEARED TO BE IN A STALLED ATTITUDE.' PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER AIRCRAFT, AND IT HIT THE GROUND, SKIDDED ACROSS A ROAD, AND HIT A TREE. PILOT STATED THAT HE 'FELT THE AIRCRAFT BUFFETING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL.' RUNWAY PILOT SELECTED HAD 69+ FEET TREES OFF THE DEPARTURE END. WIND WAS 360 DEGREES AT 4 KNOTS.
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: 230 hours in all; 179 in this make and model; 131 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,588 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1991; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3NP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,575 ft by 240 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft; not recorded at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from JXN, 10 miles away
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.