Cessna 177B accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, May 28, 1989
On May 28, 1989 at about 5:15 am local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N17184, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado (Ft Collins/Loveland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. THE DARK NIGHT AND TERRAIN CONDITION WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1989 · about 5:15 am local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · Ft Collins/Loveland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N17184 · no longer on the register · serial 17702512
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER A NIGHT TAKEOFF, THE ENG BEGAN MAKING A POPPING SOUND, THEN LOST POWER. HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN AREA WHERE THE RWY WAS BEING EXTENDED AN ADDITIONAL 2000 FT. WHILE LANDING, THE GEAR COLLAPSED. A POST-ACDNT EXAM OF THE ACFT & A SUBSEQUENT ENG RUN FAILED TO REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE RPRTD POWER LOSS.
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: 215 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 145 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 1989; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fort Collins Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: FNL at 5:15 am
- Destination: FNL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,504 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.