Cessna 177A accident near Mariposa, California, June 7, 1992
On June 7, 1992 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 177A, registered N3144T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mariposa, California (Mariposa airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH FOR LANDING, HIS FAILURE TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND, HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT, HIS MISJUDGMENT OF THE TOUCHDOWN FLARE, AND HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL AERONAUTICAL EXPEREINCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1992 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mariposa, California · Mariposa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177A · all 177As on the register
- Registration
- N3144T · registry record · serial 17700444
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN AN INTERVIEW, THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE HE WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LAND, HE TURNED BASE TOO SOON. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED WAS A LITTLE FAST AND HE WAS A LITTLE HIGH. HE SAID HE PLACED THE AIRPLANE IN A SLIP. HE SAID HE LEVELED THE AIRPLANE OVER THE RUNWAY NUMBERS, BUT THE AIRSPEED WAS ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR TOO FAST. HE SAID HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE HARD ON ALL THREE LANDING GEAR AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO PORPOISE. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE 'BOUNCED ABOUT 4 TO 5 TIMES.' HE ALSO SAID HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE DID NOT HELP AND THAT HE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE EXECUTED A GO-AROUND.
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: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,275 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FCH Fresno CA at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,310 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.