This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board travelled to the scene of this accident.
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Joyce, Stacia
Additional Participating Entities:
David Machado; Federal Aviation Administration; Sacramento, CA
Mark Platt; Lycoming; Phoenix , AZ
Jennifer Barclay; Textron Aviation; Witchita, KS
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N826E
https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199972/pdf
Andy Leavitt Enterprises LLC
- Location: Grass Valley, CA
- Accident Number: WPR25FA146
- Date & Time: May 1, 2025, 08:15 Local
- Registration: N52156 Aircraft: Cessna 177RG
- Injuries: 1 Fatal
- Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On May 1, 2025, about 0815 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 177RG airplane, N52156, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Grass Valley, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The accident airplane was equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS–B), which provides position information via satellite navigation or other sensors and periodically broadcasts it, enabling the airplane to be tracked. According to the ADS-B data, the airplane departed Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN), Auburn, California at around 0805 and flew to Nevada County Airport (GOO), Grass Valley, California. A review of archived voice communication information from the GOO common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) revealed that the pilot first reported his position to be 1/2 mile to the south of GOO and was intending to cross over midfield to enter a left downwind for runway 07. About one minute later, the pilot reported turning left downwind for runway 07. Shortly thereafter, the pilot reported turning left base, and about 30 seconds later he was recorded saying: “Nevada County mayday, mayday, mayday I have lost engine”.
The airplane came to rest inverted alongside a road in a business district of Grass Valley, at an elevation of about 2,500 ft mean sea level, about 1 mile west of GOO.
The fuselage was oriented on an east to west heading and both wings remained attached to the fuselage. Both sides of the stabilator were separated from the empennage. The left stabilator was located about 114 ft from the main wreckage on a 083° heading and the right stabilator was located about 128 ft from the main wreckage on a 071° heading. The rudder remained attached to the vertical stabilizer, and both were bent to the right. The engine was impact separated and came to rest on top of the left wing.
The first identified point of impact was a pair of 60 ft tall pine trees, located about 250 ft from the main wreckage on a heading of 086°, and situated on slightly higher terrain than the main wreckage (see figure 1). Both stabilators exhibited damage consistent with contact with the pine trees. Debris from the pine trees was found scattered between the stabilators and main wreckage (see figure 2).
The second identified point of impact was a signature mark in the soil that contained red fragments consistent with the left wingtip position light. Flight control cable continuity was partially established from each flight control surface to the cockpit. Due to impact damage, cable continuity could not be determined to the cockpit controls.
The wing mounted fuel tanks and lines were found to be breached, and residual quantities of fuel consistent with 100LL aviation fuel were observed in the left wing fuel tank. Neither of the propeller blades exhibited rotational damage.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for Airplane Single Engine Land (ASEL). According to the pilot’s logbook he had about 311 hours of total flight time and 64 hours in the airplane accident since March 2024.
The pilot held a basic med certificate and completed a medical self-assessment on April 15, 2025.
The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation.
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