Cessna 177B accident near Santa Maria, California, May 2, 2001
On May 2, 2001 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N34168, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Maria, California. 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
A stall/mush inadvertently encountered by the pilot-in-command. Failure to maintain adequate airspeed for flight and inadequate remedial action contributed to the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2001 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Maria, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N34168 · no longer on the register · serial 17701686
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane struck a pipe, cartwheeled, and came to rest inverted, following a go-around from a simulated forced landing. The pilot reported he had been taking photographs about 1,000 feet above ground level, then decided to practice engine out patterns. During the go-around from the second pattern he added power, retracted the flaps to 20 degrees, and was unable to prevent contact with the ground. The pilot further stated that it "felt like the elevator stalled."
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: 665 hours in all; 217 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 24, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,303 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 2000; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMX Santa Maria at 7:50 pm
- Destination: Santa Maria CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from SMX, 4 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.