Cessna 177RG accident near Trenton, New Jersey, May 31, 2002
On May 31, 2002 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N8200G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Trenton, New Jersey (Trenton Mercer 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
The separation of the engine induction alternate air door, which resulted in a loss of engine power. A factor was the non-compliance with the manufacturer's service letter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2002 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Trenton, New Jersey · Trenton Mercer Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N8200G · registry record · serial 177RG0100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the airplane experienced a loss of power and the pilot attempted to land on the remaining runway. The airplane touched down at the end of the runway and came to rest in a field. Examination of the engine revealed that the plastic alternate air door had separated from the front of the induction airbox and was located in the bottom of the air intake. A service letter was issued by the airplane manufacturer in 1971 which specified that the alternate air door be moved to the rear of the induction airbox. The parts manual specified that the rear-mounted alternate air door be made out of metal. The pilot reported that he had owned the airplane for 3 years.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,443 hours in all; 2,143 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 2,332 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,065 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 2002; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TTN Trenton NJ at 11:45 pm
- Destination: 26N Ocean City NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 6,006 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.56 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from TTN
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.