Cessna 175 accident near Sunnyside, Washington, July 25, 1982
On July 25, 1982 at about 4:50 am local time, a Cessna 175, registered N7694M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sunnyside, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- July 25, 1982 · about 4:50 am local time
- Place
- Sunnyside, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7694M · no longer on the register · serial 55994
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PILOT ARRIVED ON A FLIGHT FROM SUNNYSIDE TO THE CLARK COUNTY AIRPORT, ALL FUEL FACILITIES WERE CLOSED. HE ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO RETURN AND TOOK OFF WITHOUT REFUELING. ABOUT 12 MILES FROM THE SUNNYSIDE AIRPORT, FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED. IT WAS DARK, BUT THE PILOT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA AND WAS ABLE TO SELECT A GRAIN FIELD FOR A FORCED LANDING. DURING ROLL-OUT, THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED A DITCH, COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR, CONTINUED ANOTHER 100 FT, AND NOSED OVER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 249 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,639 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 056 Vancouver WA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: 155 Sunnyside WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 169°F (76°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.