N8971M - 1973 Cessna 177RG Aircraft Registration

N8971M is a 1973 Cessna 177RG, a single-engine reciprocating (piston) aircraft registered to Dixon Gary Lynn II in Ooltewah, TN. This aircraft holds a standard airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on May 29, 1973. The registration certificate was issued on July 6, 2018. The registration is set to expire on July 31, 2028. Powered by a Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D engine producing 200 horsepower, N8971M is. The aircraft's Mode S transponder code is AC61DC (hex), used for ADS-B identification and flight tracking. N8971M was last tracked by AviatorDB at coordinates 34.7795, -85.1637 on February 20, 2026. The FAA registry record for N8971M was last updated on May 26, 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 N8971M. 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.