Cessna 177B accident near Skaneateles, New York, August 22, 1993
On August 22, 1993 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N20128, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skaneateles, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ENGINE OIL FILTER, AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF OIL AND ENGINE POWER, RESULTING IN FORCED LANDING AND COLLSION WITH TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 1993 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Skaneateles, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N20128 · registry record · serial 17702634
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, 'THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, AND STOPPED SUDDENLY.' HE PERFORMED A LANDING AND STRUCK TREES. AN EXAMINATION BY THE FAA OF THE AIRPORT FROM WHICH N20128 DEPARTED REVEALED A LARGE OIL SPOT AT THE LOCATION WHERE THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN PARKED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO OIL. 'THE OIL FILTER CANISTER WAS CRUSHED INTO THE HOUSING.' IN ADDITION, THE OIL FILTER SEAL WAS 'SLIPPED AND DEFORMED.'
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,685 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1992; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: WBW Forty-Fort NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.