Cessna 177B accident near Reading, Pennsylvania, February 18, 2011
On February 18, 2011 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N11625, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Reading, Pennsylvania (Reading Regional 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
Inadequate maintenance inspection of the airplane which resulted in a shift of the shock mounted portion of the pilot's instrument panel, causing an interference of the pitch control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 2011 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Reading, Pennsylvania · Reading Regional · 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
- N11625 · registry record · serial 17702360
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane accelerated and lifted off the runway normally; however, he subsequently noticed that the elevator control could not be moved. He reduced engine power and aborted the takeoff. The airplane struck the runway hard and bounced, before coming to rest. The airplane's nose gear collapsed and the firewall was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nut that secured the shock mount to the pilot's instrument panel on the right side was missing. The left side shock mount was sheared. A portion of the instrument panel had shifted downward and the directional gyro housing was in contact with a portion of the yoke control column, restricting its movement. The airplane had been operated for about 60 hours, since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 5 months prior to the accident.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
- Flight control sys malf/fail during takeoff
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Indicating/recording systems › Instrument panel › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Malfunction
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,237 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 20, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 2010; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDG Reading PA at 7:15 pm
- Destination: DYL Doylestown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 6,350 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 17 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from RDG
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.
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.