Cessna 177B accident near Clovis, New Mexico, July 25, 1992
On July 25, 1992 at about 1:52 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N35274, was destroyed in an accident near Clovis, New Mexico (Clovis Municipal airport). It was a personal 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
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER OIL FILTER INSTALLATION AND SUBSEQUENT IMPROPER AIRCRAFT CONTROL BY THE PIC WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. A FACTOR WAS MAINTENANCE INSPECTION NOT PERFORMED AFTER THE OIL FILTER INSTALLATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1992 · about 1:52 pm local time
- Place
- Clovis, New Mexico · Clovis Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N35274 · no longer on the register · serial 17702304
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EVENING BEFORE THE FLIGHT THE OIL AND FILTER HAD BEEN CHANGED BY A PILOT WHO DID NOT PERFORM A MAINTENANCE ENGINE TEST RUN FOLLOWING THE WORK. A DIFFERENT PILOT DEPARTED IN THE AIRPLANE THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND A TOTAL ENGINE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AND THEN THE RIGHT WING HIT THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY AND EXPERIENCED A POST CRASH FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND ACCESSORIES REVEALED AN IMPROPER OIL FILTER INSTALLED.
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: 150 hours in all; 7 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 135 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,145 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 1992; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Aero Club Of Clovis
The flight
- Departed from: CVN at 1:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 6,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from CVN, 1 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.