Cessna 177B accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming, March 19, 2005
On March 19, 2005 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N30874, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming (Rock Springs-Sweetwater County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2005 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rock Springs, Wyoming · Rock Springs-Sweetwater County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N30874 · registry record · serial 17701520
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, AWOS reported that the winds were 240 degrees at 12 knots. He stated that he was set up on final approach for runway 27, and his airspeed was 75 mph. While in the flare, the airplane "ballooned" approximately 6 to 8 feet, and then it "stalled" and bounced hard on the runway about 1,700 feet from the approach end. When he increased the engine throttle to "full power," the airplane's nose dropped and it landed a second time, striking the propeller and nose landing gear. The airplane departed the left side of the runway about 2,000 feet down and struck a runway light with its right horizontal stabilator. The pilot stated that he brought the airplane back on the runway about 2,400 feet down and then taxied it to the hanger. The airplane's firewall was buckled and the right stabilator was displaced aft and its leading edge was crushed.
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: 165 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 109 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 18, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,362.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 2004; 37.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RKS Rock Springs WY at 3:30 pm
- Destination: RKS Rock Springs WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 90 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from KRKS
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.