Cessna 177 accident near Kelleys Island, Ohio, June 27, 2025
On June 27, 2025 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1969 Cessna 177, registered N30743, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Kelleys Island, Ohio (Kelleys Island Land Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while taking off in gusting crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2025 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kelleys Island, Ohio · Kelleys Island Land Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 B, built 1969 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N30743 · registry record · serial 17701437
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing and reported that there was a direct crosswind of 10 knots gusting to 20 knots. Just after rotation, about 10 to 15 ft. above ground level, a strong crosswind pushed the airplane “hard” off the centerline and down towards the runway. The pilot attempted to correct by applying full left aileron but was unable to establish a stable climb and elected to reduce power and land in the grass off the end of the runway. During the landing, the right wing impacted the ground followed by the nose and left wing. The impacts resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. 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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 255 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 194 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 19, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,311 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 24, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 (piston); 5,311 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HAO Hamilton OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,202 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 85°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from PCW, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPCW 271535Z AUTO 22008KT 180V260 10SM CLR 30/24 A2999 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of right wing damage.
Photograph 2 – View of fuselage damage.
Photograph 3 – View of left wing, right wing, and fuselage damage.The 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 14, 2025. 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 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 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.