Cessna 177RG accident near Lynden, Washington, June 14, 2020
On June 14, 2020 at about 2:30 am local time, a 1973 Cessna 177RG, registered N1958Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Lynden, Washington (Lynden Municipal Airport Janse). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall, hard landing, and a landing gear collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2020 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Lynden, Washington · Lynden Municipal Airport Janse · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG No Series, built 1973 · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N1958Q · no longer on the register · serial 177RG0358
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing approach, the airplane abruptly stalled about 20 ft above the runway and touched down firmly. The pilot added full power to abort the landing and applied forward pressure on the control yoke to keep the nose down. Before a climb rate could be established to clear trees at the end of the runway, the airplane again stalled, touched down, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid off the runway and the fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 control in flight during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 551.5 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 104.5 in the last 90 days; 25.1 in the last 30 days; 473.3 as pilot in command; 98.1 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 15, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,184.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 1,205 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNT Renton WA at 1:30 am
- Destination: 38W Lynden WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 07, 2,425 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:15 am from KBLI, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.