Cessna 177RG accident near Gunnison, Colorado, June 14, 1992
On June 14, 1992 at about 5:35 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N52658, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gunnison, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTOR(S) INCLUDED: FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE MISJUDGING OF FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1992 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Gunnison, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N52658 · registry record · serial 177RG1234
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TOPPING OFF THE 60 GALLON USABLE FUEL TANKS AT CENTENNIAL AIRPORT, ENGLEWOOD, CO, THE PILOT RECEIVED TWO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHTS TOTALLING 3.1 HOURS. THREE DAYS LATER, HE AND TWO PASSENGERS FLEW TO NUCLA, CO, IN 1.7 HOURS, AND PURCHASED 15 GALLONS OF FUEL. THEY CONTINUED ON TO BULLFROG BASIN, UT, IN 0.9 HOURS. ON THE RETURN TRIP THE NEXT DAY, AFTER FLYING 1.2 HOURS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY. DURING LANDING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR ENTERED SOFT GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE SWERVED OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE RETRIEVAL CREW SAID THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. THE PILOT SAID HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FLY TO GUNNISON, CO, IN 1.4 HOURS WITH AN 8 GALLON RESERVE.
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
- Flight time: 322 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 260 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,930 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1991; 165 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U07 Bullfrog UT at 4:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.