Cessna 177 accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming, September 23, 2011
On September 23, 2011 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N3152T, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Rock Springs, Wyoming (Rock Springs Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not lean the fuel mixture prior to takeoff, which resulted in the engine's inability to attain sufficient power due to the rich mixture, and his inadequate preflight planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 2011 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Rock Springs, Wyoming · Rock Springs Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 UNDESIGNAT · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3152T · no longer on the register · serial 17700452
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he leaned the mixture in order to start the engine, but he did not lean the mixture prior to takeoff and did not remember using the Before Takeoff checklist. Shortly after takeoff and during the initial climb, the engine power was smooth and strong, but, about 500 feet above ground level, the engine started vibrating and the airplane began to lose altitude. Not being able to return to the airport, the pilot made an emergency off-field landing. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear impacted a hole or a berm, which resulted in the collapse of the left main gear. A postaccident engine run revealed no anomalies with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane’s owner’s manual notes that, for maximum rate-of-climb performance at airports above 5,000 feet, the mixture control should be leaned. The elevation of the airport was 6,764 feet. The density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be 7,907 feet.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel controlling system › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,913 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 7,555 as pilot in command; 408 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 5, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,947 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RKS Rock Springs WY at 3:55 pm
- Destination: AVK Alva OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from RKS, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.