Cessna 177B accident near Redlands, California, September 22, 2024
On September 22, 2024 at about 2:11 am local time, a 1976 Cessna 177B, registered N177SX, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Redlands, California (Redlands Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during final approach, which resulted in a collision with rocky terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 2024 · about 2:11 am local time
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B, built 1976 · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N177SX · no longer on the register · serial 17702532
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while on final approach he noticed that his instrument panel lights were low, and it was difficult to read their indications. He further stated that he was low and slow and had power applied throughout his descent. The airplane impacted rocky terrain short of the runway and was subsequently destroyed by postcrash fire. The pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 26, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,289 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 2024; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 2,289 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08/2, 4,504 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KRIV, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRIV 220155Z AUTO 29007KT 10SM CLR 22/14 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP116 T02230141 PWINO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident site, main wreckage.
Photograph 2 – Accident site, right wing.
Photograph 3 – Accident site, empennage.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 13, 2025. 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 | Record of Memorandum-pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array-courtesy of the Redlands Police Department | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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.