# NTSB CEN24LA381: Cessna 177B, N177GW, Forest Lake, MN, May 29, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 29, 2024, 16:26 local (21:26 UTC) - Place: Forest Lake, MN - Coordinates: 45.248691, -92.994539 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2487&lon=-92.9945&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 195503 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195503/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195503 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA381 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and failure to maintain aircraft control during the simulated forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, he was demonstrating a power-off 180° simulated forced landing to the runway. Following a smooth landing, the airplane drifted to the right onto the grass. The right wheel was in the grass, and the airplane veered hard right towards a ditch. During the attempt to regain directional control, the airplane impacted a visual approach slope indicator (VASI) light. The flight instructor reported that he thought the pilot receiving instruction may have been on the flight controls during the attempted recovery. The flight instructor taxied the airplane to the parking area. According to the pilot receiving instruction, he and the flight instructor were practicing a power-off landing to the runway. The pilot reported that as the airplane neared the runway, he felt they were not at the right angle or approach to make a successful landing. The flight instructor advised the pilot to continue the landing. About 50 to 75 ft above the ground, the pilot did not think he could make the landing and transferred control to the flight instructor. During the landing, one wheel exited the runway surface, and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane struck a VASI light, and the flight instructor taxied the airplane to the ramp to inspect the damage. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilator and empennage. Both the flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The accident was reported to the National Transportation Safety Board on November 18, 2024. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N177GW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N177GW), registered now, S/N 17702481, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B - Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17702481 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 7691 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 3, 2024 - Departed: ANE, Anoka, MN - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 25D, Forest Lake, runway 13/31, 2,700 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 27, 2023; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,252 total, 101 in this make and model, 3,050 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 592 total, 1 in this make and model, 446 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: ANE, 12 nm away - METAR: 292150Z 05003KT 10SM SCT050 22/08 A3018 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240529020019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240529020019A), May 29, 2024: Cessna 177B, Forest Lake, MN, Substantial damage. After performing a power off 180 maneuver on approach, the private pilot indicated that he did not believe the landing was going to be successful. The CFI then… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195503. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - flight instructor (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18059585&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CFI%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - pilot receiving instruction (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18059723&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 439 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18058919&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.