Cessna 182F accident near Medford, Oregon, May 22, 1982
On May 22, 1982 at about 7:17 pm local time, a Cessna 182F, registered N3461U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Medford, Oregon (Beagle Sky Ranch airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were 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
- May 22, 1982 · about 7:17 pm local time
- Place
- Medford, Oregon · Beagle Sky Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182F · all 182Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3461U · no longer on the register · serial 18254861
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF, ENGINE OIL BEGAN TO ACCUMULATE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND RESTRICT FORWARD VISIBILITY. THE PILOT RETURNED TO LAND, BOUNCED DURING LANDING, AND ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. DURING CLIMBOUT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES ON RISING TERRAIN AND CRASHED. THE OWNER STATED THAT THE OIL FILLER/INSPECTION CAP HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY SECURED AFTER PREFLIGHT.
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: 209 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 153 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,515 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OR96 Medford OR at 12:10 pm
- Destination: OR96 Medford OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Observation at 12:33 pm from MFR, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 2 |
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.