Cessna 182J accident near Bethel, Ohio, August 16, 1989
On August 16, 1989 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Cessna 182J, registered N3542F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bethel, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1989 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Bethel, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N3542F · registry record · serial 18257542
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN A SOYBEAN FIELD, SHORTLY AFTER THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM HIS 1600 FT TURF STRIP. HE RPRTD THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE PLANE REACHED AN ALT OF 200 TO 300 FT AGL. HE COULD NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT HAD OCCURRED AFTER THAT, THOUGH HE DID RECALL LOWERING THE NOSE & HEARING A BUZZER SOUND AT ONE POINT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE PROP BLADES WERE TWISTED OR BENT WITH CHORDWISE SCRATCHES ON BOTH BLADES. THE ENG WAS PLACED IN A TEST CELL, WHERE IT WAS STARTED & RUN TO IDLE RPM. IT WAS NOT OPERATED ABOVE IDLE RPM, DUE TO A BENT CRANKSHAFT FLANGE. (THE CRANKSHAFT FLANGE WAS BENT DRG IMPACT.)
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: 105 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 68 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 1989; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from LUK, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.