Cessna 177A accident near Akron, New York, July 9, 1989
On July 9, 1989 at about 11:54 pm local time, a Cessna 177A, registered N3154T, was destroyed in an accident near Akron, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1989 · about 11:54 pm local time
- Place
- Akron, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177A · all 177As on the register
- Registration
- N3154T · no longer on the register · serial 17700454
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON A RETURN FLIGHT TO NORTH BUFFALO SUBURBAN AIRPORT IN LOCKPORT, NEW YORK AFTER STAYING OVER NIGHT IN ONEONTA, NEW YORK. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE LEFT TANK POSITION, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT TANK AND CONTACTED BUFFALO APPROACH FOR VECTORS TO NEAREST AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REACH THE AIRPORT. WHEN IT WAS LANDED IN A CULTIVATED FIELD, THE NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO DIRT AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. AN EXAM REVEALED THERE WAS LESS THAN A CUP OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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: 302 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 248 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,081 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 27, 1988; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N66 Oneonta NY at 10:35 pm
- Destination: 0G0 Lockport NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.