- Date
- July 17, 1988, 04:45 local (09:45 UTC)
- Place
- Mankato, MN
- Injuries
- 4 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2059QCessna 177RG
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report September 29, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880717026709A
- Case key
- 14115
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
As the pilot leveled off at his intended cruise altitude, he noted a loss of oil pressure, then saw oil spread up over the windshield, restricting his visibility. The pilot performed emergency procedures, and began descending to the nearest airport. During the emergency descent the engine seized. The pilot was unable to reach the airport and descended through some trees before making a forced landing in a bean field approximately 1/4 mile from the airport. The loss of oil was determined to be due to a cracked propeller governor oil tube through which oil was pumped overboard.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2059Q
- Reported as
- Cessna 177RG
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 177RG0429
- Airframe hours
- 1,975
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A1B6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Airlake Aero, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Airlake Aero Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 5, 1988 · 34 hours before
- Departed
- Y12 · Lakeville, MN
- Destination
- BFF · Scottsbluff, NE
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 786 total · 27 in this make and model · 632 as pilot in command · 44 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RST, 55 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.