Cessna 177 accident near Inverness, Florida, October 14, 2021
On October 14, 2021 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1967 Cessna 177, registered N3299T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Inverness, Florida (Inverness 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
The pilots inadequate recovery from a wind gust during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and substantial damage to the fuselage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 2021 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Inverness, Florida · Inverness Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177, built 1967 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3299T · registry record · serial 17700599
- 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 after he crossed the runway threshold, he reduced power then encountered a gust of wind that caused the airplane to balloon between 50 and 100 ft. He reduced pitch, added about 100 rpm, then took that amount out, but the airplane landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. He stopped the airplane, secured the engine and the airplane was towed to the ramp. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not specified
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 473 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 377 as pilot in command; 137 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 2, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 488 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 334 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,905.0 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 2,916 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BKV Brooksville FL at 3:13 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from KINF, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KINF 141635Z AUTO 7SM BKN033 OVC041 29/22 A2999 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on May 13, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Record of Conversation | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Additional Information from Pilot-in-command Regarding Wind | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - Damage Information from Insurance Adjuster | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.