Cessna 177 accident near Near Qgallala, Nebraska, June 27, 1982
On June 27, 1982 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N29397, was destroyed in an accident near Near Qgallala, Nebraska (Lakeview Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. 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
- June 27, 1982 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Near Qgallala, Nebraska · Lakeview Airstrip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N29397 · no longer on the register · serial 17700862
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE PREFLIGHT, THERE WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES OF FUEL IN ONE TANK AND ABOUT 3 INCHES IN THE OTHER TANK. HOWEVER, HE DID NOT REMEMBER THE ACCIDENT OR WHAT HAPPENDED FOR ABOUT A WEEK THEREAFTER. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WHEN THE PLANE WAS NEAR THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE STRIP IN AN AREA OF BRUSH NEAR TREES. BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE VISIBLY CHECKED AND WERE FOUND TO BE EMPTY.
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: 737 hours in all; 182 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 699 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,207 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,275 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORD Ord NE at 11:00 am
- Destination: Ogallala NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,650 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°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.