Cessna 177 Safety Record

The improper installation of the propeller governor by company maintenance personnel, resulting in the total loss of oil and engine seizure. Factors were the pilot's misjudgment of altitude and airspeed, causing him to make a forced landing on unsuitable terrain and collide with a tree and motor vehicles.

the pilot's delay in aborting the landing, and his failure to attain adequate airspeed to fly out of ground effect, which resulted in a stall/mush and collision with the ground. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and the resultant porpoise.

An oil starvation failure of the engine due to a mechanic's failure to put the proper gasket stack on when the propeller governor was replaced. The mechanic's omission was due to the airframe manufacturer's failure to ensure that the service and parts manuals for the aircraft contained the most recent information concerning the unique gasket requirement for this airplane.

The pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to alcohol which led to his inadequate preflight of the aircraft and his inadequate inflight decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power.

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain the proper altitude/clearance from obstruction(s), while on final approach. Factors relating to the accident were: the downdraft, and the obstruction (tree).

failure of the oil pump, which resulted in oil starvation and subsequent failure of the number two and four cylinder connecting rods. Also causal was inadequate maintenance by noncompliance with the airworthiness directive that required replacement of the oil pump.

failure of the pilot to properly judge the distance and altitude to the runway just before touching down, and his premature flare for landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the presence of sun glare during the landing, and the resultant degradation of the pilot's visual perception.

The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing. A factor in this accident was the CFI-rated pilot/passenger's inattention.

the pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to alcohol, and his failure to maintain altitude/clearance from the power transmission wires. Darkness, restricting the pilot's ability to see-and-avoid the transmission line, was a related factor.

the pilot-in-command's improper decision to take off into deteriorating weather conditions (including turbulence, gusty winds, and an advancing thunderstorm and associated precipitation) when the airplane was overweight and when the density altitude was higher than he was accustomed to, resulting in a stall caused by failure to maintain airspeed. Contributing to the pilot-in-command's decision to take off was a desire to adhere to an overly ambitious itinerary, in part, because of media commitments.

fuel contamination, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in subsequent loss of engine power during cruise flight. A factor relating to the accident was: rough terrain in the emergency landing area.

improper planning/decision by the pilot-in-command (PIC), and his failure to ensure that adequate airspeed was obtain and/or maintain during lift-off/initial climb. A factor relating to the accident was: the PIC allowed the airplane's maximum gross weight limit to be exceeded.

Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper preflight planning and failure to ensure that adequate fuel was onboard to complete the flight. Darkness was a related factor.

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and failure to maintain altitude/clearance from the power line, while on short final approach. The downdraft was a related factor.

the pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain altitude and clearance from the mountainous terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the fog, low ceilings, and downdraft.

The failure of the pilot to do adequate preflight planning and failure to refuel when he had the opportunity. A factor in the accident was the soft field due to recent rains.