Cessna 177RG accident near Marshall, Arkansas, October 31, 2002
On October 31, 2002 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N35866, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marshall, Arkansas. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. 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
- October 31, 2002 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Marshall, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N35866 · registry record · serial 177RG1065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately 5 miles from the departure airport, the engine started to lose power. The pilot turned the airplane back toward the airport; however, the engine regained power, and the pilot elected to continue the flight. Approximately 25 minutes later, the engine gradually lost power, then after 2 minutes, the engine lost total power. In an attempt to regain engine power, the pilot checked the magnetos, fuel boost pump, and adjusted the throttle, mixture, and propeller settings. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a ditch, flipped over, and came to rest inverted. No anomalies were noted during an examination of the engine and airframe. The engine was test run at various low power settings with no anomalies noted. The reason for the total loss of engine power was not determined.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,405 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 81 in the last 30 days; 1,260 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 3, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,042 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 2002; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4M1 Berryville AR at 4:40 pm
- Destination: 4M4 Clinton AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.