Cessna 180 accident near Wadsworth, Ohio, January 2, 1987
On January 2, 1987 at about 9:11 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N3296D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wadsworth, Ohio (Wadsworth Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 1987 · about 9:11 pm local time
- Place
- Wadsworth, Ohio · Wadsworth Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3296D · no longer on the register · serial 459345J
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE REPORTEDLY COMPLETED AN NDB APPCH TO RWY 02. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE CIRCLED THE RWY TWICE AFTER ARRIVING AT THE ARPT TO CHECK THE RWY CONDITION. HE SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED ON RWY 20 WHERE HE 'IMPACTED SOMETHING ON RUNWAY OR HIT AIR POCKET, DID NOT KNOW'. HE THEN 'ADDED POWER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF (ACFT).' FROM THAT POINT ON HE WAS UNABLE TO REMEMBER THE REMAINING EVENTS. A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT DESCEND NOSE-DOWN ALMOST VERTICALLY FROM LESS THAN 100 FT AGL, AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACT THE GROUND. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS APPROX 2000 FT OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 20.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 571 hours in all; 319 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 319 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,584 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1986; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SVH Statesville NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 2, 3,535 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from CLE, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.