Cessna 177RG accident near Orlando, Florida, April 7, 1986
On April 7, 1986 at about 1:50 am local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N35911, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orlando, Florida (Orlando Executive airport). It was a personal flight 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1986 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Orlando Executive · 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
- N35911 · no longer on the register · serial 177RG1075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT ON FINAL APCH HE EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR BUT ON TOUCHDOWN THE GEAR COMPLETELY COLLAPSED. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE ALTERNATOR BELT WAS LOOSE ALLOWING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN DOWN ENOUGH SO THE ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS NOT ABLE TO COMPLETELY EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR. THE ACFT WAS PLACED ON JACKS & AUX POWER WAS APPLIED & THE LANDING GEAR CYCLED WITH NO DISCREPANCIES.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,314 hours in all; 315 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 1,202 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,798 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8A4 Marietta GA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 7, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 am from ORL
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.