Cessna 177 accident near Nacogdoches, Texas, June 8, 2000
On June 8, 2000 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N29383, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nacogdoches, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power during a go-around resulting from the failure of the worn carburetor heat control cable. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2000 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nacogdoches, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N29383 · no longer on the register · serial 17700854
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a simulated emergency approach to a landing area, at 75 feet agl, the flight instructor told the student pilot to go-around. The student attempted to add full power; however, he could not fully turn off the carburetor heat. The instructor stated that the engine would not produce full power. The student retracted the flaps to 1/4-flap setting once the airplane's descent was arrested. The instructor noticed that the airplane was not climbing and took control of the airplane. The airplane impacted trees at a speed of approximately 50 mph. A week prior to the accident flight the student experienced a similar situation during a go-around following a simulated loss of engine power. The carburetor heat would not shut off and the airplane would not climb. The stuck carburetor heat control could not be duplicated by maintenance personnel. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed impact marks indicating that the carburetor heat deflection door was in the on position at the time of the accident. The carburetor heat control cable was fractured in two, approximately 8 inches from the carburetor heat deflection door attach point. Examination of the carburetor heat control cable revealed that u-shaped indentions had been worn into the inner wire by its metal spiral sleeve. Examination of the inner wire revealed that it could not carry its design load due to the wear marks, and had failed as a result of tensile overload. Examination of the aircraft maintenance records revealed that the carburetor cable had not been replaced since the airplane was manufactured in 1968.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,663 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 3,415 as pilot in command; 360 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,804 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 2000; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OCH at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from OCH, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.