Cessna 177 accident near Bowling Green, Kentucky, December 26, 1992
On December 26, 1992 at about 11:26 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2325Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bowling Green, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 1992 · about 11:26 pm local time
- Place
- Bowling Green, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2325Y · no longer on the register · serial 17700125
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOUR HOURS INTO A FLIGHT FROM GREENWOOD, ILLINOIS TO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL GAUGES SHOWED THE TANKS WITH 1/4 FUEL REMAINING. HE ELECTED TO DIVERT TO BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY AND REFUEL. WHILE ON DOWN WIND FOR LANDING AT THE AIRPORT THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER OF A MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE FAA FOUND NO FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE'S TANKS WHEN THEY EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,261 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 7, 1992; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 10C Greenwood IL
- Destination: BNA Nashville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from BWG, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.