Cessna 177 accident near Nacogdoches, Texas, July 13, 1992
On July 13, 1992 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N3425T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nacogdoches, Texas (Just Plane Fun 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS WERE THE INADVERTENT PORPOISE OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1992 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Nacogdoches, Texas · Just Plane Fun
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3425T · no longer on the register · serial 17700725
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE LANDED LONG AND PORPOISED AFTER THE FLAPS WERE RETRACTED. THE PILOT APPLIED ABOUT 2 DECONDS OF THROTTLE THEN WENT TO IDLE WHEN HE SAW TREES APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET AHEAD OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE PORPOISED AGAIN AND THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. IT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, WENT THROUGH HEAVY BRUSH, AND IMPACTED A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD LANDED LONG BECAUSE THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO HIGH AND TOO FAST DURING THE APPROACH TO THE 3,100 FEET AIRSTRIP. HE ESTIMATED HE TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 1,800 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY. THIS LEFT 1,300 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING PLUS 500 FEET OF SAFETY AREA BEFORE THE TREE LINE.
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: 96 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,550 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 5, 1991; 225 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 3,100 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.