Cessna 177 accident near Kinston, North Carolina, April 24, 2009
On April 24, 2009 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2803X, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Kinston, North Carolina. 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
A partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 1 cylinder exhaust valve for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2009 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Kinston, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2803X · registry record · serial 17700203
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight the pilot stated that the engine suddenly and without warning began running rough with "...much vibration." He reduced power, which reduced the vibration, and the airplane began losing altitude. He proceeded to the nearest airport but after recognizing that he would be unable to land there, he maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing in a field. Examination of the engine revealed the No. 1 cylinder exhaust valve was broken and the top of the No. 1 cylinder and piston were damaged by the broken valve. Although the engine was last overhauled on August 12, 1989, the cylinders were not replaced at that time. The overhaul entry indicates that the cylinders were only inspected and honed. Further, there was no record that the No. 1 cylinder had been removed and replaced since the engine was overhauled. The engine had accumulated approximately 1,310 hours since overhaul at the time of the accident. The reason for the No. 1 exhaust valve failure was not determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 531 hours in all; 397 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 447 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 16, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,382 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 22, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPK Norfolk VA at 12:20 pm
- Destination: ACZ Wallace NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 1:59 pm from ISO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA09LA271.