Cessna 177 accident near Erie, Illinois, June 28, 1992
On June 28, 1992 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N3195T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Illinois (Earl Air Ranchette airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1992 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Illinois · Earl Air Ranchette · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3195T · no longer on the register · serial 177-00495
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE MADE AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY POWERLINES ON THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY HE WAS GOING TO LAND ON. HE STATED HE DID NOT SEE ANY WIRES DURING THE TIME HE FLEW A BASE LEG AND FINAL APPROACH. WHILE ON SHORT FINAL, THE PILOT BECAME AWARE OF THE WIRES AND APPLIED BACK PRESSURE IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE WIRES. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE WIRES AND DESCENDED, UNCONTROLLED, ONTO THE CLEARWAY AREA WHICH PRECEDED THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE 30 FOOT HIGH WIRES WERE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE POLES AND WIRES DID NOT HAVE HAZARD MARKINGS. THE WIRES HAD A COLORATION THAT BLENDED INTO THE TERRAIN THE PILOT WOULD SEE AS HE APPROACHED THE RUNWAY.
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: 1,390 hours in all; 640 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,336 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,379 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Maple City Flying Club, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: IS37 Geneseo IL at 7:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:34 pm from SQI, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.