Cessna 172N accident near Ritter Butte, Oregon, April 25, 1987
On April 25, 1987, a Cessna 172N, registered N1935F, was destroyed in an accident near Ritter Butte, Oregon. 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
- April 25, 1987
- Place
- Ritter Butte, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1935F · no longer on the register · serial 17273025
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLT THE PLT NOTICED THAT HE WAS GRADUALLY LOSING HIS COMMUNICATIONS RADIO AND NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE PLT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGES WERE QUICKLY APPROACHING EMPTY. SINCE HOSTILE TERRAIN WAS AHEAD THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ONTO A ROAD. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN THE PLT NOTICED A CAR IN HIS LANDING PATH. A TURN WAS MADE DURING THE GO-AROUND AND THE ACFT WAS UNABLE TO OUTCLIMB RISING TERRAIN. THE PLT LANDED THE ACFT ONTO RISING TERRAIN WHERE THE NOSE WHEEL DUG IN AND BROKE OFF WITH THE ACFT NOSING OVER INVERTED. NO ABNORMALITIES OTHER THAN A DEAD BATTERY WAS FOUND. FUEL STAINS WERE EVIDENT ON THE GROUND AND 8+ GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE FUEL TANKS.
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: 218 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 171 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,242 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 23, 1987; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H10 Hillsboro OR at 11:00 pm
- Destination: BOI Boise ID
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.