Cessna 177RG accident near Dania, Florida, July 20, 1986
On July 20, 1986 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N1554H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dania, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. 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
- July 20, 1986 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Dania, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N1554H · no longer on the register · serial 177RG0728
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING ALONG THE BEACH THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE STEADILY LOST POWER. THE PILOT THEN DITCHED THE AIRCRAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE AFTER RECOVERY REVEALED THAT THE FUEL LINE FROM THE FUEL SERVO UNIT TO THE FUEL DIVIDER BLOCK WAS LOOSE. THERE WAS ALSO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPRAY PATTERNS ON THE INSIDE OF THE LOWER ENGINE COWLING. THE AIRCRAFT HAD AN ANNUAL INSPECTION 1.1 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND THE AN OVERHAULED ENGINE WAS INSTALLED AT THAT TIME.
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: 165 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 92 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,211 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 1986; 1 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: FXE Ft.Lauderdale FL at 1:50 pm
- Destination: EYW Key West FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from FLL, 2 miles away
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.