Cessna 177RG accident near Cameron Park, California, August 28, 1993
On August 28, 1993 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N33195, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cameron Park, California (Cameron Airpark 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT THE LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE ALTERNATOR FAILURE DUE TO A BROKEN WIRE AND THE LOW BATTERY OUTPUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 1993 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Cameron Park, California · Cameron Airpark · 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
- N33195 · registry record · serial 177RG0918
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE PILOT LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE SAW THE LANDING GEARS DOWN GREEN LIGHT ILLUMINATE AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE LANDING THE NOSE GEAR WAS THE ONLY GEAR IN THE DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION. THE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE BATTERY POWER WAS MOSTLY DEPLETED DUE TO A BROKEN ALTERNATOR WIRE. THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM WAS TESTED AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CESSNA MAINTENANCE MANUAL SHOWS THAT THE LANDING GEAR LIGHT IS CONNECTED IN SERIES WHEREAS THE LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE UNLESS ALL THREE LANDING GEARS ARE DOWN AND LOCKED.
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: 966 hours in all; 682 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 923 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,333 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 1992; 63 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: TVL S. Lake Tahoe CA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,060 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.