Cessna 177 accident near Turlock, California, July 26, 1992
On July 26, 1992 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2279Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Turlock, California. 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 PILOTS POOR PLANNING IN NOT PROPERLY SECURING THE AIRCRAFT WITH TIEDOWNS, CHOCKS OR BRAKES PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE BY HAND PROPPING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1992 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Turlock, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2279Y · no longer on the register · serial 17700079
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOADED HIS PASSENGERS IN THE AIRCRAFT FOR A LOCAL AREA FLIGHT AND ATTEMPTED TO START IT; HOWEVER, THE BATTERY DID NOT CONTAIN A SUFFICIENT CHARGE TO ENERGIZE THE STARTER. THE PILOT DECIDED TO HAND PROP THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS NOT TIED DOWN OR CHOCKED. WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH AN ADJACENT PARKED AIRCRAFT.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,390 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,390 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,864 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°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.
Other NTSB records under N2279Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.