Cessna 177RG accident near Phoenix, Arizona, December 23, 2004
On December 23, 2004 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N1JM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Deer Valley Airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 2004 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Deer Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N1JM · registry record · serial 177RG0375
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane veered off the left side of the runway during landing with a 40-degree, 12-knot crosswind. The pilot was performing a post maintenance test flight to check the landing gear warning system. He completed the test, and was landing. As soon as he lowered the nose wheel to the runway, the airplane veered to the left despite his corrective control inputs. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and into the midfield terrain, collapsing the right main landing gear strut. No mechanical anomalies were identified during the post accident airplane examination.
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: 620 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 620 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 612 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 21, 2004; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KDVT Phoenix AZ at 5:15 pm
- Destination: KDVT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07L, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KDVT
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.