# NTSB ERA25LA244: Cessna 177B, N34655, Calera, AL, June 24, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 24, 2025, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Calera, AL - Coordinates: 33.177555, -86.781548 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1776&lon=-86.7815&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 19, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200404 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA244 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200404/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200404 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA244 ## Probable cause A loss of control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had planned to fly in the airport traffic pattern to practice takeoffs and landings. The pilot stated that during the first landing, after touchdown on the main wheels, he felt a “jolt” when the nosewheel came down and the airplane veered to the left and off the runway. To avoid a worker mowing in the vicinity, he initially applied the brakes and aft pressure on the control yoke in an attempt to slow the airplane. He then applied full right rudder and added power, and the airplane turned right, briefly became airborne as the airplane returned to the runway surface. The airplane then touched down “hard” on the nose landing gear and the pilot brought the airplane to a stop. The fuselage aft of the firewall was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The worker who was mowing reported that he saw the airplane “wobbling” as it approached the runway. He then stopped cutting the grass and moved the mower closer to the airport perimeter fence to stay out of the airplane’s way. He continued to watch the airplane and described that during the landing it contacted the runway and bounced three times before he saw the airplane’s nose hit the ground, after which he watched it exit the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N34655](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N34655), registered now, S/N 17701925, built 1973 (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: 17701925 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 6851 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Take Flight Holdings, LLC - Registered owner: Nick The Marketer LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: EET, Shelby County, runway 16, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 2, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 450 total, 8 in this make and model, 300 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 3025.00 inHg - Observed at: EET - METAR: SA 24/06/2025 16:53->METAR KEET 241653Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM FEW045 32/22 A3025 ## 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 20250624011879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250624011879A), Jun 24, 2025: Cessna 177B, Calera, AL, Substantial damage. During landing the aircraft touhed down on both main wheels normally, the nose wheel touched down and the aircraft imediately veered left off the runway.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200404. 12.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 10.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19948562&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19948935&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03-Witness%20Mitchell%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 7 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19868748&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20in%20PDF-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.