Cessna 177 accident near Warwick, New York, September 11, 2008
On September 11, 2008 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N17142, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Warwick, New York (Warwick Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2008 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Warwick, New York · Warwick Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 B · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N17142 · registry record · serial 17702507
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Cessna 177B stated that, on approach to runway 3R, he noted that the windsock was favoring the runway, with a left crosswind approximately 15 degrees from the center of the airplane. While on a short final approach, the pilot then observed the windsock indicating no wind, but favoring a direction across the runway. The pilot continued his approach at 60 knots, with full flap extension. He flared the airplane over the first one-third of the runway, but the airplane floated and touched down between 500 to 700 feet from the end of the runway. The pilot was unable to stop the airplane on the runway. It traveled off the end of the runway and struck muddy terrain. During the impact, the left wing, including a left wing rib, sustained damage. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The reported wind at an airport located approximately 15 miles north of the accident site, about 31 minutes before the accident, was from 160 degrees at 4 knots. The reported wind at the same site about 29 minutes after the accident, was from 160 degrees at 6 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing area overshoot during landing
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 813 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 721 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 12, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,465 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 2008; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Morris Aero Club Inc
The flight
- Departed from: MMU Morristown NJ at 6:45 pm
- Destination: N72 Warwick NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03R, 2,150 ft by 28 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from MGJ, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.