Cessna 177B accident near Calera, Alabama, June 24, 2025
On June 24, 2025 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 177B, registered N34655, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Calera, Alabama (Shelby County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2025 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Calera, Alabama · Shelby County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B, built 1973 · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N34655 · registry record · serial 17701925
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had planned to fly in the airport traffic pattern to practice takeoffs and landings. The pilot stated that during the first landing, after touchdown on the main wheels, he felt a “jolt” when the nosewheel came down and the airplane veered to the left and off the runway. To avoid a worker mowing in the vicinity, he initially applied the brakes and aft pressure on the control yoke in an attempt to slow the airplane. He then applied full right rudder and added power, and the airplane turned right, briefly became airborne as the airplane returned to the runway surface. The airplane then touched down “hard” on the nose landing gear and the pilot brought the airplane to a stop. The fuselage aft of the firewall was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The worker who was mowing reported that he saw the airplane “wobbling” as it approached the runway. He then stopped cutting the grass and moved the mower closer to the airport perimeter fence to stay out of the airplane’s way. He continued to watch the airplane and described that during the landing it contacted the runway and bounced three times before he saw the airplane’s nose hit the ground, after which he watched it exit the runway.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 2, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,851 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Take Flight Holdings, LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 3025.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 am from EET
Weather report (METAR): SA 24/06/2025 16:53->METAR KEET 241653Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM FEW045 32/22 A3025
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 7 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Front view of Aircraft
Photograph 2 – Right side of aircraft
Photograph 3 – Left side of aircraft
Photograph 4 – Close up of damage to right side of fuselage
Photograph 5 – Close up of damage to left side of fuselage
Photograph 6 – Damage to lower firewall and supporting structure
Photograph 7 – Nose wheel showing no rim damageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 19, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photos | PDF, 8 pages · our copy | 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.