NTSB ERA22LA176 — 2022-04-02 · Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States

Current FAA registration · N123LS

Make / Model: CESSNA 177RG
Year of manufacture: 1973 · 49 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D (200 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19730212
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A05FE2

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N123LS Cessna 177RG Minor

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering on final approach which resulted in a high sink rate and subsequent collision with a fence.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported he was on final approach for a short field landing when the airplane developed an unexpected sink rate from which he did not have time to recover. The airplane subsequently struck a fence bordering the runway and impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. A witness located on the approach end of the runway reported that the airplane appeared to be low and at an abnormally slow airspeed, and immediately before impact with the fence, the airplane pitched up rapidly. The pilot stated that he got behind the airplane on approach and there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Identification/recognition-Pilot
— Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Attention-Pilot
— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained
— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained
— Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Fence/fence post-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_ERA22LA176.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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