Cessna 177B accident near Aztec, New Mexico, March 29, 1986
On March 29, 1986 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered CGIJZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aztec, New Mexico. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 1986 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Aztec, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- CGIJZ · no longer on the register · serial 177-02435
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT AND ONE PAX DEPARTED ESTON, SASKATCHEWAN AT 0600, EN ROUTE TO GUAYMAS, MEXICO FOR A VACATION. ACFT WAS REFUELED IN BILLINGS, MT AT 0900 AND AT GRAND JUNCTION, CO. PLT CHECKED WX, FILED VFR FLIGHT PLAN AND DEPARTED GRAND JUNCTION AT 1430, EN ROUTE TO TUCSON, AZ. PLT SAID THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT ENG QUIT. PLT MADE FORCED LANDING ON DIRT ROAD. DURING LANDING ROLL ACFT HIT DITCH AND OVERTURNED. EXAMINATION OF ACFT REVEALED RUBBER GASKET SURROUNDING AIR FILTER HAD DETERIORATED AND WAS FOUND LODGED IN CARBURETOR VENTURI. EXAMINATION OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT NEITHER A.D. 81-15-03 NOR SUPERCEDED A.D. 78-25-05 HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
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: 1,509 hours in all; 1,090 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 1,414 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,375 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 13, 1985; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Juction CO at 9:30 pm
- Destination: TUC Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.