Cessna 177 accident near Harrisonville, Missouri, September 12, 2017
On September 12, 2017 at about 1:03 am local time, a 1972 Cessna 177, registered N34413, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Harrisonville, Missouri (Lawrence Smith Memorial airport). It was a personal 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
A collision with a deer on the runway during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2017 · about 1:03 am local time
- Place
- Harrisonville, Missouri · Lawrence Smith Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 B, built 1972 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N34413 · registry record · serial 17701791
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during takeoff, he heard a "bang," and "it felt as though the airplane hit a brick wall." He added that, during the climb, he examined the engine instruments, which appeared normal. About 800 ft above ground level, he looked out the left pilot window and observed that the fixed left main landing gear was "oddly positioned up next to [the] seat/door." The pilot reported that he contacted air traffic control, declared an emergency, and performed a "gear up" landing at the destination airport. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After the accident, the following was added to the Airport Facility Directory: "Deer and other wildlife on and in vicinity of airport." It is likely the airplane hit a deer on the runway.
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
What happened, in order
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,318.4 hours in all; 189 in this make and model; 36.7 in the last 90 days; 11.3 in the last 30 days; 954.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 24, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,371.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 1,505 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LRY Harrisonville MO at 1:03 am
- Destination: LXT Lee'S Summit MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KLRY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on November 21, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.