Cessna 177RG accident near Republic, Washington, November 25, 1986
On November 25, 1986, a Cessna 177RG, registered N52069, was destroyed in an accident near Republic, Washington (Ferry County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 25, 1986
- Place
- Republic, Washington · Ferry County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N52069 · no longer on the register · serial 177RG61159
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT TAXI OUT OT THE RWY IN LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS AND TAXI TO THE NORTH END OF THE RWY. DURING THE TAKEOFF THE AREA WAS COVERED WITH A HEAVY SNOW SHOWER, WITH WINDS FROM THE NORTH GUSTING T0 20-25 MPH. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO DEPART TO THE SOUTH WITH ITS LIGHTS ON IN THE SNOW AND CRASH ABOUT .25 MILE WEST OF RWY.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 1,290 in this make and model; 1,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,290 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 7, 1986; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: SFF Spokane WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.