Cessna 177 accident near Auburn, Washington, January 22, 1995
On January 22, 1995 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N29598, was substantially damaged in an accident near Auburn, Washington (Auburn Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CARBURETOR OBSTRUCTION DUE TO INGESTION OF PART OF THE INDUCTION AIR DUCTING. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1995 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, Washington · Auburn Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N29598 · no longer on the register · serial 17700983
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED BLACK SMOKE FROM THE AIRCRAFT AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED A LOSS OF POWER AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING INTO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SOFT TERRAIN AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. DURING INVESTIGATION, A 1/2' BY 1 1/2' PIECE OF NEOPRENE INDUCTION AIR DUCTING WAS FOUND INGESTED IN THE CARBURETOR, CAUSING OBSTRUCTION OF THE CARBURETOR VENTURI.
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: 230 hours in all; 149 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S50 at 7:40 pm
- Destination: TIW Tacoma WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 22,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from SEA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.