Piper PA-18-150 accident near Colusa, California, April 16, 1986
On April 16, 1986 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N82182, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colusa, California. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- April 16, 1986 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Colusa, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N82182 · no longer on the register · serial 18-7909067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON A PIPELINE AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT HE ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE, SNOW SHOWERS AND FREEZING RAIN. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO DEPART THE AREA THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND VIBRATE TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY FURTHER TURNS WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL. THE PILOT ELECTED TO NEGOTIATE A 'PRECAUTIONARY LANDING' IN AN OPEN AREA AND WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTIONS AND/OR FAILURES.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,241 hours in all; 10,210 in this make and model; 265 in the last 90 days; 74 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,426 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,760 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UKI Ukiah CA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: SAC Sacramento CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N82182 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.