Cessna 177RG accident near Warren, Pennsylvania, April 11, 2005
On April 11, 2005 at about 8:04 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N7545V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warren, Pennsylvania (Warren Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to follow the balked landing checklist while attempting to abort a landing. Factors in the accident were his failure to maintain directional control during the landing, and a gust of wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2005 · about 8:04 pm local time
- Place
- Warren, Pennsylvania · Warren Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N7545V · no longer on the register · serial 177RG0842
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Cessna 177RG departed the airport, proceeded in a northeasterly direction, and climbed to approximately 3,500 feet msl. About 8 minutes prior to the accident, the airplane began a descent. The airplane circled the airport once, and turned onto final approach approximately 3/4 mile from and about 300 feet above the runway threshold. The airplane touched down at the start of the runway, slightly left of centerline, and traveled at approximately 64 knots ground speed. The airplane then encountered a "heavy gust of wind" from the left, crossed over the centerline, and departed the right side of the runway, about 1,000 feet from the touchdown point while traveling at approximately 52 knots. The landing was aborted; however, the airplane did not clear a treeline about 480 feet southeast of the runway. At approximately 55 knots, the airplane impacted 50-foot tall trees, and then came to rest on the ground inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed the flaps were retracted, and no preimpact failures or malfunctions were identified. The Cessna 177RG Pilot's Operating Handbook called for 20 degrees of flaps and 65 knots indicated airspeed while executing a balked landing.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,078 hours in all
- Last flight review: October 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,042.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTP Butler PA at 7:20 pm
- Destination: 7PA1 Warren PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from BFD, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.