- Date
- July 6, 1999, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Weldon Springs, MO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1937QCessna 177RG
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990706044089A
- Case key
- 46800
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the loss of engine oil for undetermined reasons. A factor was the trees.
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
The pilot stated that, while en route, he noticed a loss of oil pressure. A short time later, the airplane's engine failed, and the pilot executed a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane struck trees at the end of the field. The airplane had just had maintenance performed which included an oil change and installation of a newly overhauled propeller and propeller governor. Post accident examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the lower fuselage substructure in the area near the cabin door opening. Oil was found inside the engine compartment and on the exterior surfaces of the fuselage.
Factual narrative
On July 6, 1999, at 1645 central daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N1937Q, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Weldon Springs, Missouri. The positioning flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight had departed from the Kirksville Regional Airport, Kirksville, Missouri, at 1545, and was en route to the Spirit of Saint Louis Airport (SUS), Saint Louis, Missouri.
In a written statement, the pilot said that the airplane had just had maintenance performed which included an oil change and installation of a newly overhauled propeller and propeller governor. The pilot stated that, while en route, he noticed a loss of oil pressure. The pilot contacted the SUS tower controllers and informed them of the decreasing oil pressure. The pilot was transferred to a radar facility. Shortly after establishing communications with the radar facility, the aircraft engine failed and the pilot executed a forced landing in a field approximately 7 miles west of SUS. During the landing roll, the airplane struck trees at the end of the field.
Post accident examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the lower fuselage substructure in the area near the door opening. Oil was found inside the engine compartment and on the exterior surfaces of the fuselage. No preexisting anomalies were detected.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1937Q
- Reported as
- Cessna 177RG
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 177RG0337
- Airframe hours
- 4,065
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mark L Thompson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 30, 1999 · 51 hours before
- Departed
- IRK · Kirksville, MO
- Destination
- SUS · Saint Louis, MO
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,117 total · 3,150 in this make and model · 5,017 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,700 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SUS, 7 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.