Cessna 177RG accident near Ennis, Texas, September 27, 1985
On September 27, 1985 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N2637V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ennis, Texas (Ennis Muni. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1985 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Ennis, Texas · Ennis Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N2637V · no longer on the register · serial 177RG0637
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT COULD NOT LOWER THE LANDING GEAR THROUGH USE OF THE NORMAL GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEM. HE WAS ABLE TO PARTIALLY LOWER IT THROUGH THE USE OF THE EMERGENCY EXTENSION SYSTEM. NEXT HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS. THE NOSE GEAR REMAINED DOWN BUT UNLOCKED WHILE THE MAIN GEARS FOLDED BACK INTO THEIR WHEEL WELLS. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF ITS HORIZONTAL STABILATOR STRUCK A SHORT WOOD POST AND BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT TO A STOP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE HYDRAULIC FLUID SUPPLY HAD BEEN DEPLEATED THROUGH A FATIGUE CRACKED ALUMINUM PRESSURE LINE, THUS CAUSING THE HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED LANDING GEAR SYSTEM TO BE INOPERATIVE BY USE OF ITS NORMAL OR EMERGENCY EXTENSION SYSTEMS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 93 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 54 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.
Other NTSB records under N2637V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.