Cessna 177RG accident near Colby, Kansas, November 30, 1986
On November 30, 1986 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N7692U, was destroyed in an accident near Colby, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 30, 1986 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Colby, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N7692U · registry record · serial 177RG0903
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN AFTER BEING BRIEFED. THERE WAS FREEZING DRIZZLE TO THE WEST THAT WAS MOVING TOWARD THE DEPARTURE AREA. THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF INTO A LOW CEILING WITH NEAR FREEZING TEMPERATURE. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB TO 9000 MSL BUT ENCOUNTERED STRUCTURAL ICING CONDITIONS THAT HE CALLED GREATER THAN MODERATE. AT FIRST, AIRPLANE COULD NOT CLIMB, THEN COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. ATC PROVIDED ASSISTANCE OF STEERING TOWARD NEAREST AIRPORT. AIRPLANE WAS FORCED DOWN IN A FARMYARD, 5 MILES SOUTH OF AIRPORT. ICE TWO INCHES THICK WAS FOUND ON AND AROUND AIRPLANE WRECKAGE.
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: 282 hours in all; 61 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,929 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 1986; 120 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: ADT Atwood KS at 6:29 pm
- Destination: FOE Topeka KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded at 300 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from GLD, 42 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.