Cessna 177 accident near Troutdale, Oregon, July 24, 1993
On July 24, 1993 at about 4:55 am local time, a Cessna 177, registered N30170, was substantially damaged in an accident near Troutdale, Oregon (Portland Troutdale airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION, AND FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS INCLUDE UNFAVORABLE WINDS, A DARK NIGHT, AND TREES IN THE ATTEMPTED LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1993 · about 4:55 am local time
- Place
- Troutdale, Oregon · Portland Troutdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N30170 · no longer on the register · serial 17701096
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, WHO HAD ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO MAKE A NON STOP TRIP, FOUND IT NECESSARY TO MAKE AN UNPLANNED STOP AFTER HE HAD ALREADY REACHED CRUISE ALTITUDE. THIS CAUSED HIM TO EXECUTE A SECOND UNPLANNED TAKEOFF AND CLIMB TO RETURN TO CRUISE ALTITUDE. THIS, ALONG WITH A CONSTANT HEADWIND OF APPROXIMATELY 20 KNOTS, RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT CONSUMING MORE FUEL THAN THE PILOT HAD ESTIMATED WOULD BE BURNED EN ROUTE. BECAUSE HE BASED HIS FUEL BURN FIGURES PRIMARILY ON HIS EXPERIENCE DURING PREVIOUS TRIPS IN THIS AIRCRAFT, HE THOUGHT HE HAD FUEL REMAINING, EVEN THOUGH THE GAUGES READ EMPTY PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF POWER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 853 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 665 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,275 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WLW Willows CA at 1:35 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 am from TTD, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.