Cessna 182 accident near Tooele, Utah, March 9, 1989
On March 9, 1989 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N3613U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tooele, Utah (Bolinder airport). It was an instructional 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
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. THE QUARTERING CROSSWIND, GUSTS, AND LACK OF PILOT EXPERIENCE WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 1989 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tooele, Utah · Bolinder · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N3613U · registry record · serial 18255013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON A SOLO X-COUNTRY TRAINING FLT. HE RPRTD THAT DRG THE TAKEOFF ROLL ON RWY 16, A GUST OF WIND BLEW THE PLANE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. ALSO, HE RPRTD THE WINDS WERE FROM 180 DEG AT 20 GUSTING 30 KTS. THE NOSE GEAR, PROP & WINGS WERE DAMAGED DRG THE OCCURRENCE.
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: student
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Golden Spike Flying Club
The flight
- Destination: BMC Brigham City UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.