Cessna 182A accident near Brownsville, Texas, February 22, 1989
On February 22, 1989 at about 11:18 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N3826D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brownsville, Texas (Reem Air LTD. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS AND MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY. THE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE SUNGLARE ARE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1989 · about 11:18 pm local time
- Place
- Brownsville, Texas · Reem Air LTD. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N3826D · no longer on the register · serial 34526
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON AN APPROACH TO LAND TO THE WEST AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTHEAST AT 11 TO 15 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE SETTING SUN 'BLINDED' HIM, ALLOWING HIM TO DRIFT LEFT OF COURSE AND STRIKE A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN ON THE AIRSTRIP AND SOUTH OF THE APPROACH END, COMING TO REST INVERTED.
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: 235 hours in all; 65 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 22, 1989; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BRO Brownsville TX at 11:15 pm
- Destination: NONE Brownsville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from BRO, 1 miles away
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.