ERA26LA093

On January 13, 2026, about 1530 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177B, N34959, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ocoee, Tennessee. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the airplane had been undergoing maintenance for the past 11 months following a propeller strike. The repairs and the annual inspection were completed the day before the accident flight. After refueling the fuel tanks and performing a preflight inspection, with no anomalies observed, he departed from Lovell Field Airport (CHA), Chattanooga, Tennessee, and proceeded east. About 20 minutes after departure, and at an altitude of 4,500 ft mean sea level (msl), the engine rpm increased to 3,000 rpm, which is 300 rpm above the engine’s maximum operating rpm, followed by an engine vibration. The pilot declared an emergency to air traffic control but determined he would be unable to reach the nearest airport and initiated a forced landing in a field. During the landing rollout, the airplane continued into a wooded area and impacted trees. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed it had sustained substantial damage to the wings, the fuselage, and the horizontal stabilator. A coating consistent with engine oil was observed on the left side of the engine and fuselage. The wreckage was retained for further examination.