Cessna 177RG accident near Scappoose, Oregon, April 5, 1992
On April 5, 1992 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N52638, was destroyed in an accident near Scappoose, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, CAUSE UNDETERMINED. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1992 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Scappoose, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N52638 · no longer on the register · serial 177RG1222
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS DESCENDING IN IMC ON AN IFR FLT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING AND THE ACFT IMPACTED OBSTACLES WHILE HE WAS ATTMEPTING TO LAND ON A ROAD. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,142 hours in all; 720 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,267 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 1992; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S88 Arlington WA at 8:24 pm
- Destination: HIO Hillsboro OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft; clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from HIO, 20 miles away
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.