Cessna 177 accident near Marietta, Oklahoma, January 1, 1999
On January 1, 1999, a Cessna 177, registered N30246, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marietta, Oklahoma (Mcgehee Catfish Restauran airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain clearance with terrain. Factors were the short runway and the dark night light condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 1, 1999
- Place
- Marietta, Oklahoma · Mcgehee Catfish Restauran · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N30246 · no longer on the register · serial 17701146
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane contacted tree branches while on final approach to land at a private turf covered airport during dark night light conditions. The pilot flew over the 2,450 foot runway and verified that the runway was free of obstructions, and then committed to land. While on final approach he observed all of the runway lights and no obstructions. As the pilot observed the runway threshold lights 'just beginning to disappear beneath the nose of the aircraft,' he noticed tree branches 'to the front of and to the left' of the approach path, and initiated a go-around. Subsequently, the airplane's left wing contacted the tree branches, and the airplane turned to the left. The airplane impacted the ground, slid 75 feet, and came to rest upright. Remarks in the Airport/Facilities Directory for the airport states: Runway 35 Trees; While landing at night, trees off both runway ends.
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: 107 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 68 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 8, 1998; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,275 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0F2 Bowie TX
- Destination: T40
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,450 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.