Cessna 177 accident near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, April 2, 1988
On April 2, 1988 at about 2:44 am local time, a Cessna 177, registered N29325, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Cedar Rapids airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- April 2, 1988 · about 2:44 am local time
- Place
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa · Cedar Rapids · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N29325 · no longer on the register · serial 17700813
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY TRIP, PIC EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER LOSS. AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED AND THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL OR FUEL STARVATION PROBLEMS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT AFTER THE DESCENT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE APPLIED CARB HEAT AFTER THE POWER LOSS. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF CARBURETOR ICING.
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: 354 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 310 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WII Menomonie WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 9, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from CID, 4 miles away
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.