Cessna 177RG accident near Fresno, California, June 26, 2007
On June 26, 2007 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N47RH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fresno, California (Fresno Chandler Airport). It was an instructional 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 maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2007 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · Fresno Chandler Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N47RH · registry record · serial 177RG0185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot lost directional control of the airplane during a soft-field takeoff and the airplane collided with obstacles, prior to coming to rest off of the runway surface. The pilot was undergoing a flight review. Both he and the certified flight instructor reported an undetermined problem with the right main landing gear. The airplane then veered to the left and the right main landing gear collapsed after impacting a sign. The right main landing gear was pulled into the down-and-locked position following the accident by a local aviation maintenance technician, and then the airplane was towed to the ramp area.
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: 390 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 293 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,982 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2,944 as pilot in command; 580 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,640 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Textron Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E79 Fresno CA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: FCH Fresno CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,630 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from FAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.