Cessna 177RG accident near Tewksbury, Massachusetts, June 18, 1987
On June 18, 1987 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N53060, was destroyed in an accident near Tewksbury, Massachusetts (Tew-Mac 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
- June 18, 1987 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Tewksbury, Massachusetts · Tew-Mac
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N53060 · registry record · serial 177RG1333
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE LEFT TANK TO BOTH WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. HE THEN DECIDED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND DURING THE FLARE BECAUSE HE FELT HIS A/S WAS TO FAST. THE ENGINE QUIT AT 40 FT AGL DURING THE GO-AROUND. HE WAS UNABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED PRIOR TO IMPACT. AS HE WAS BEING PULLED FROM THE ACFT, HE NOTICED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. HE REALIZED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR HAD BEEN ON THE RIGHT TANK AND HE HAD PLACED IT IN THE OFF POSITION.
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: 230 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 192 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,080 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HFD Hartford CT at 1:45 am
- Destination: B09 Tewksbury MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,830 ft by 26 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N53060 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.