Cessna 177RG accident near Dacula, Georgia, October 8, 2022
On October 8, 2022 at about 6:56 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 177RG, registered N2047Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Dacula, Georgia (Gwinnett County - Briscoe Fld 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight collision with a bird while on approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2022 · about 6:56 pm local time
- Place
- Dacula, Georgia · Gwinnett County - Briscoe Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG, built 1973 · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N2047Q · registry record · serial 177RG0447
- 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 while on a published instrument approach procedure a bird impacted the leading edge of the left wing, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing structure. He stated that there were no flight control difficulties and that he was able to land safely on the intended runway. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Birdstrike during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 360 hours in all; 229 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 314 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 29, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,910 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2021; 67.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 1,909 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFFC Peachtree City GA at 6:14 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 6,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from LZU, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLZU 081856Z 28006KT 10SM CLR 24/07 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP222 T02390072
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 ERA23LA014.