Cessna 177B accident near Terlingua, Texas, February 20, 1995
On February 20, 1995 at about 1:15 am local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N34958, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terlingua, Texas (Terlingua Ranch airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 HIS DECISION TO LAND ON THE UNLIT RUNWAY AND THE DUSK LIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 1995 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Terlingua, Texas · Terlingua Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N34958 · no longer on the register · serial 17702115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ALTHOUGH THE UNLIGHTED RUNWAY WAS VISIBLE TO THE PILOT ON FINAL APPROACH, AFTER TOUCHING DOWN, HE 'LOST THE CENTERLINE.' THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, IMPACTED BRUSH, AND CONTINUED TO TRAVEL FORWARD UNTIL IT CAME TO REST IN A RAVINE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT 'IT WAS GETTING DARK' AS THEY APPROACHED THE AIRPORT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 352 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 297 as pilot in command; 36 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,043 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 18, 1994; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AIF6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TX07 Presidio TX
- Destination: 1E2
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 4,695 ft by 90 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 090° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.