Cessna 120 accident near Scappoose, Oregon, September 5, 2022
On September 5, 2022 at about 5:20 pm local time, a 1946 Cessna 120, registered N77257, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Scappoose, Oregon (Scappoose Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while taxing in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2022 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Scappoose, Oregon · Scappoose Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120, built 1946 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N77257 · registry record · serial 11719
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during taxi southbound for takeoff he noticed the windsock in a north-northwest wind direction. He had the flight controls in a neutral position and the engine speed was 800 rpm when he encountered a strong gust of wind from behind. The tail of the airplane lifted, and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. The right-wing lift strut and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during taxi (to runway) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 230.3 hours in all; 20.4 in this make and model; 11.1 in the last 90 days; 4.8 in the last 30 days; 131.8 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 23, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,288.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C-85-12F (piston); 3,302 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA67 Vancouver WA at 9:05 am
- Destination: KSPB Scappoose OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KSPB
Weather report (METAR): KSPB 051753Z AUTO 36010KT 10SM CLR 21/12 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP212 T02060117 10206 20111 58002
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR22LA336.