Cessna 177B accident near Gardiner, Washington, June 16, 1996
On June 16, 1996 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N1159C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gardiner, Washington (Diamond Point Airstrip 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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain the proper altitude/clearance from obstruction(s), while on final approach. Factors relating to the accident were: the downdraft, and the obstruction (tree).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1996 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Gardiner, Washington · Diamond Point Airstrip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1159C · no longer on the register · serial 17702677
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach to land on runway 28, the pilot encountered a downdraft, and the aircraft's right wing struck a fir tree approximately 400 feet short of the threshold. The aircraft then descended to the ground, where it impacted and came to rest against a mobile home.
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: 895 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 845 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,313 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 1995; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORS Eastsound WA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 2WA1
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,335 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from CLM, 23 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.
Other NTSB records under N1159C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.