# NTSB ERA26LA093: Cessna 177, N34959, Ocoee, TN, January 13, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: January 13, 2026, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Ocoee, TN · Treeline near 1236 COOKSTON CREEK RD.
- Coordinates: 35.10404, -84.674966 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1040&lon=-84.6750&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202297
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA093
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202297/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA093

## Preliminary report

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.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N34959](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N34959), registered now, S/N 17702116, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177 (B)
- 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: 17702116
- Year built: 1974
- Airframe hours: 3250
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2026, 0.5 hours before
- Departed: CHA, Chattanooga, TN
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: CHA, 26 nm away
- METAR: METAR KCHA 131953Z 21009KT 10SM SCT250 16/M05 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP178 T01611050 $

## 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 20260113000999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260113000999A), Jan 13, 2026: Cessna 177B, Ocoee, TN, Substantial damage. Aircraft was doing flight after recent maintenance. During cruise, had increase in RPM followed by severe vibrations, which led to loss of power and emergency…

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.

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