Cessna 177 accident near Greenwood, Nebraska, August 6, 1992
On August 6, 1992 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N30108, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenwood, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PRIVATE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1992 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Greenwood, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N30108 · no longer on the register · serial 17701065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED GREEN BAY ABOUT 0900 HOURS WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF BEATRICE, NEBRASKA. AFTER ENCOUNTERING IFR WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIGHER THAN EXPECTED FUEL CONSUMPTION, THE PILOT CHANGED HIS DESTINATION TO LINCOLN, NEBRASKA. THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AT 1345 HOURS, AFTER 4 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES OF FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A DITCH DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USEABLE FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM, AND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED HE PLANNED THE FLIGHT BASED ON A RANGE OF 8.0 HOURS, USING 51% POWER AT 7,500 FEET. HE SUSPECTED BAD FUEL CAP SEALS RESULTED IN THE FUEL SIPHONING FROM THE TANKS DURING FLIGHT. THE FAA INSPECTOR STATED ALTHOUGH THERE WERE STAINS AFT OF THE FUEL CAPS, THEY 'APPEARED TO BE OLD STAINS.' EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SEALS REVEALED THEY 'APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION.'
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 248 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 165 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,275 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GRB Green Bay WI at 2:00 pm
- Destination: LNK Lincoln NE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:26 pm from LNK, 19 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.