Cessna 172 accident near Mazama, Washington, July 23, 1995
On July 23, 1995 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8627B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mazama, Washington (Lost River airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed for the wind conditions during climbout. The gusty wind condition was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1995 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Mazama, Washington · Lost River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8627B · no longer on the register · serial 36327
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airport was located in a valley in mountainous territory. The pilot estimated the wind at takeoff as being down the runway at 25 knots, gusting to 35 knots. He stated that he took off with 20 degrees of flaps due to concerns about obstacle clearance; however, the airplane owner's manual states that obstacle clearance takeoffs are to be performed with flaps retracted. Witnesses stated that after becoming airborne, the airplane 'initiated a healthy rate of climb.' The pilot and witnesses reported that the right wing then dropped as the airplane reached the level of treetops surrounding the airport. The pilot said he attempted to correct the wing drop with aileron but that his corrective action was not fully effective. The airplane subsequently impacted the runway.
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: 231 hours in all; 231 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 231 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,959 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 1994; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA36 at 10:20 pm
- Destination: CVO Corvallis OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,150 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°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.