Cessna 177B accident near Odessa, Texas, June 13, 1986
On June 13, 1986 at about 7:00 am local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N34889, was substantially damaged in an accident near Odessa, Texas (Odessa-Schlemeyer airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1986 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- Odessa, Texas · Odessa-Schlemeyer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N34889 · no longer on the register · serial 17702067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PAX, THE PLT HAD BEEN DRINKING PRIOR TO THE FLT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT DECIDED THAT PERHAPS HE WAS NOT IN ANY CONDITION TO FLY, SO HE ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT & LAND. RPRTDLY, HIS SEAT BELT HAD GOTTEN CAUGHT IN THE DOOR, & ON FINAL APCH, THE DOOR OPENED. THIS DISTRACTED THE PLT, & SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RWY, THEN SKIDDED 255 FT BEFORE STOPPING. THE PLT'S SEAT BELT WAS NOT FASTENED. HE WAS THROWN OUT OF THE ACFT & WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE PAX'S SEAT BELT WAS FASTENED & SHE RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK SHOWED THAT THE PLT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.29%.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 190 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 135 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: AUS Austin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:09 am from MAF, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.