Cessna R182 accident near Redding, California, July 30, 1992
On July 30, 1992 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna R182, registered N5116T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redding, California (Benton Field). 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF UNDER THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1992 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Redding, California · Benton Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N5116T · no longer on the register · serial R18201816
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE WAS ATTEMPTING A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF ON THE 2,420 FOOT LONG RUNWAY 33 WITH A TAIL WIND COMPONENT OF ABOUT 12 KNOTS. THE PILOT SAID THAT AT THE HALFWAY POINT ON THE RUNWAY HE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT INDICATED AIRSPEED TO CONTINUE AND HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT OVER RAN THE END OF THE RUNWAY, COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 324 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 211 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,049 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 28, 1992; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hillside Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,420 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from RDD, 8 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.