Cessna 177 accident near Greencastle, Indiana, April 24, 1999
On April 24, 1999 at about 4:38 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N3270T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greencastle, Indiana. 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 operating with known deficiencies in equipment and the fuel cap that disengaged. Factors were the wet grass, and muddy terrain conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1999 · about 4:38 pm local time
- Place
- Greencastle, Indiana · 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
- N3270T · no longer on the register · serial 17700570
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight made a forced landing after an in-flight loss of power and was substantially damaged during roll out. Prior to the flight, the pilot performed a walkaround and found the airplane's fuel was full. He noticed in-flight the left fuel gauge read about 1/2 and less than 1/2 on the right. He decided to divert. The engine was losing power and he attempted an emergency landing in a wet grass and muddy field. After landing, the right fuel cap was found, out of it's filler neck area, on top of the right wing, and in the locked position. The pilot stated that if he had been notified of the fuel cap malfunction, the accident could have been prevented. A lineman parked and fueled the airplane with the owner before the accident. The lineman said the right wing fuel cap was not engaged in its filler neck area, was held on by its chain, and found in the locked position on top of the wing. The lineman stated the right wing had a blue trail down the back of the wing about 8 to 10 inches wide. The lineman said he told the owner about the cap. The lineman re-installed the right cap in its filler neck area on the wing. The cap was examined after the accident and the self-locking nut on the bottom of the fuel cap could be turned by hand. The cap's dome was found not seated on the bolt. The dome could be moved by hand.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 729 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 591 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,443 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 1998; 60 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: CHA Chattanooga TN at 1:30 pm
- Destination: LAF Lafayette IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from IND, 25 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.
Other NTSB records under N3270T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.