Cessna 177 accident near Abilene, Texas, March 30, 1989
On March 30, 1989 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N3313T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Abilene, Texas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE GEAR DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING FUEL EXHAUSTION DURING THE DESCENT INTO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1989 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Abilene, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3313T · no longer on the register · serial 1770613
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 188 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 149 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,051 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 28, 1988; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3F2 Cisco TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: ABI Abilene TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from ABI, 5 miles away
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.