Cessna 172 accident near Prospect, Oregon, May 29, 1987
On May 29, 1987 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N4173F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prospect, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
- May 29, 1987 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Prospect, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N4173F · no longer on the register · serial 17246073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LOST PWR DURING CRUISE FLT DUE TO LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE OIL LEAKS. THE RECOMMENDED T.B.O. IS 1800 HRS AND THIS ENG HAD A TOTAL OF 2344 HRS. A TOP OVERHAUL HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED 140 FLT HRS PRIOR TO THE ACC. THE ACFT HAD ONLY BEEN FLOWN 25 HRS IN THE LAST 3 YRS. THE PLT HAD DEPARTED ON THIS X-COUNTRY WITHOUT FILING A FLT PLAN. DURING THE FORCED LNDG AFTER THE LOSS OF POWER THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING THE LNDG ROLL.
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: 1,030 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,290 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S13 Albany OR at 6:00 pm
- Destination: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.