Ryan-Navion NAV 4 accident near Cottage Grove, Oregon, May 28, 1983
On May 28, 1983 at about 2:33 pm local time, a Ryan-Navion NAV 4, registered N4468K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottage Grove, Oregon (Cottage Grove 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 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 28, 1983 · about 2:33 pm local time
- Place
- Cottage Grove, Oregon · Cottage Grove
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan-Navion NAV 4
- Registration
- N4468K · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-1468
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A HAY FIELD AND COLLAPED THE LANDING GEAR AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT AT 500 FT AGL DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB. DURING AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION THERE WAS NO FUEL VISIBLE IN THE RT WING TANK. THE LEFT WING TANK HAS NOFILLER ACCESS BUT IS CONNECTED TO THE RT TANK BY A 2 INCH CONNECTING HOSE WITH A HALF GALLON HEADER TANK BETWEEN THEM. THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE WING TIP TANKS. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON MAIN TANKS. THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL LINES TO THECARBURETOR. THERE WAS ABOUT 1 OUNCE OF FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR. THE MECHANICS WHO REMOVED THE ACFT SAID THEY FOUND A TOTAL OF ABOUT 4 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE SYSTEM.
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: 230 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 187 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,528 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1983; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cottage Grove OR at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.