Cessna 172K accident near Troutdale, Oregon, January 7, 2001
On January 7, 2001 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N78284, was substantially damaged in an accident near Troutdale, Oregon (Portland-Troutdale airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions while taxiing the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 7, 2001 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Troutdale, Oregon · Portland-Troutdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N78284 · no longer on the register · serial 17257553
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was landing the airplane on a dry paved runway (07). Shortly after touchdown, the pilot exited the runway at taxiway Alpha Two (A-2). While taxing from the runway to A-2, the airplane nosed-over. The aircraft came to rest on its back adjacent to the taxiway. The 1253 METAR observation at Troutdale, reported winds from 100 degrees true at 27 knots, gusting to 34 knots. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical difficulties or failures with the aircraft that may have contributed to the accident.
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: 116 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 72 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 2, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,551 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 29, 2000; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLS The Dalles OR at 8:00 pm
- Destination: TTD Troutdale OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 5,399 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 082° at 27 knots, gusting 34
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from KTTD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.