Cessna 177 accident near Watonga, Oklahoma, June 13, 1994
On June 13, 1994 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2867X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Watonga, Oklahoma (Watonga Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH, HIS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH THE FENCE. A FACTOR WAS THE WEATHER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1994 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Watonga, Oklahoma · Watonga Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2867X · registry record · serial 17700267
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER REPORTED ENCOUNTERING A WIND SHEAR, ACCOMPANIED BY A STRONG DOWNDRAFT, WHILE ON SHORT FINAL TO RUNWAY 17. THE PILOT ADDED POWER BUT THE HORIZONTAL STABILATOR STRUCK A BARBED WIRE FENCE, AND THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD SHORT OF THE THRESHOLD. THE WIND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED FROM 200 DEGREES AT 22 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 29 KNOTS.
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: 174 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,788 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 5, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAW Lawton OK at 3:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,220 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 22 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.