Cessna 177A accident near Trout Lake, Washington, October 8, 1991
On October 8, 1991 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177A, registered N30515, was substantially damaged in an accident near Trout Lake, Washington (Trout Lake airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND, AND PROPER CLIMB RATE NOT BEING MAINTAINED. FACTORS INCLUDE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, THE PILOT'S OVER-CONFIDENCE IN HIS OWN ABILITY AND THE ABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT, LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION, AND A TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1991 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Trout Lake, Washington · Trout Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177A · all 177As on the register
- Registration
- N30515 · no longer on the register · serial 17701298
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT OF THE CESSNA 177A ATTEMPTED A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF AT THE 1750 FOOT GRASS STRIP. JUST AFTER TAKEOFF HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS NEAR A STALL, AND LOWERED THE NOSE TO PICK UP AIRSPEED. WHEN THE NOSE WAS LOWERED, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SINK, AND ULTIMATELY IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.
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
- Flight time: 86 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 52 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PRO Prosser WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,750 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.