Cessna 177 accident near Christmas Valle, Oregon, September 19, 1990
On September 19, 1990 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N29614, was substantially damaged in an accident near Christmas Valle, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT DURING LANDING GROUND ROLL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CONTAMINATED FUEL AND THE SOFT TERRAIN ON THE LANDING SURFACE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 1990 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Christmas Valle, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N29614 · no longer on the register · serial 17700992
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN VFR CRUISE FLT, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A GRAVEL ROAD. THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR ENTERED SOFT DIRT AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DURING LANDING GROUND ROLL AND THE PILOT OVER CORRECTED TO THE LEFT. THE ACFT SWERVED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD, IMPACTED A DITCH AND WIRE FENCE. A POST ACCIDENT EXAM REVEALED WATER 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: 204 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 130 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,534 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 1989; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S07 Bend OR at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from RDM, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.