Aircraft Description
N52881 is a 1977 Cessna 177RG, a single-engine reciprocating (piston) aircraft registered to Cardinal Air in Gold Hill, NC. This aircraft holds a standard airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on January 5, 1978. The registration certificate was issued on August 26, 2014. The registration is set to expire on August 31, 2027. Powered by a Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D engine producing 200 horsepower, N52881 is. The aircraft's Mode S transponder code is A6AA30 (hex), used for ADS-B identification and flight tracking. N52881 was last tracked by AviatorDB at coordinates 35.5213, -80.3184 on March 18, 2026. The FAA registry record for N52881 was last updated on March 10, 2023. AviatorDB monitors aircraft positions through ADS-B surveillance data and updates records as new position data is received.
The Cessna 177 Cardinal was an ambitious four-seat general aviation aircraft designed to replace the popular Cessna 172 Skyhawk with modern features including a cantilever wing and all-flying stabilator. First flown in 1967 and introduced in 1968, it was a high-wing single-engine monoplane that seated four occupants with improved visibility and comfort over its predecessor. Spanning over 35 feet with sleek aerodynamic lines, the Cardinal suffered from initial underpowering that hampered its commercial success. Manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Company from 1968 to 1978, approximately 4,295 units were produced across all variants. AviatorDB tracks 80,556 Cessna aircraft currently registered in the FAA database. The ICAO type designator for this aircraft model is C177.
AviatorDB has found no NTSB accident or incident reports involving N52881. AviatorDB cross-references all FAA registration data with NTSB accident and incident reports, providing a comprehensive safety overview for every registered aircraft in the United States.
Registered Owner
Powerplant & Avionics
NTSB Accident History (1)
| Date | NTSB # | Damage | Highest Injury | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 4, 2018 | GAA19CA017 | Substantial | None | The pilot's improper decision to attempt a gear-up glide to the runway and his subsequent failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to use a checklist before landing. |
Additional Details
Last Known Position
Data Source
Data provided by the US Federal Aviation Administration. View on FAA.gov
Last updated: 2026-05-15 01:32:20 UTC