Cessna TR182 accident near Oakland, California, January 17, 1989
On January 17, 1989 at about 9:12 am local time, a Cessna TR182, registered N5398R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oakland, California (Oakland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PREVIOUS DAMAGE DUE TO PREVIOUS HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 1989 · about 9:12 am local time
- Place
- Oakland, California · Oakland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N5398R · no longer on the register · serial R18200643
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO LANDING, THE PLT EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR AND NOTED THAT THE GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED INDICATOR WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE PLT MANUALLY EXTENDED THE GEAR, HOWEVER, THE INDICATION WAS THE GEAR WAS NOT DOWN AND LOCKED. THE PLT VISUAL NOTED THAT THE MAIN GEAR WAS EXTENDED BUT WAS UNSURE IF THE NOSE WAS EXTENDED. THE PLT FLEW BY THE TOWER AND THE CONTROLLER NOTED THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE NOSE WAS IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE PLT LANDED THE AIRPLANE, MAIN WHEELS FIRST, AND HELD THE NOSE OFF AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. WHEN THE NOSE WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RT. THE PLT APPLIED BRAKES AND BACK PRESSURE ON THE YOKE. THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED AS THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RWY AND NOSED OVER. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANCIAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS HAVING CAUSED THE GEAR COLLAPSE. THE PLT RPTD THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD EXPERIENCED A PREVIOUS HARD LANDING.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,225 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,170 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1988; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 7:15 am
- Destination: OAK Oakland CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27R, 5,453 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 am from OAK
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.