Amateur-built 182G-460 accident near Winlock, Washington, July 16, 1984
On July 16, 1984 at about 3:25 am local time, a amateur-built 182G-460, registered N3156S, was destroyed in an accident near Winlock, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. 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
- July 16, 1984 · about 3:25 am local time
- Place
- Winlock, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 182G-460
- Registration
- N3156S · no longer on the register · serial 18255656
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 182 WAS EQUIPPED WITH A WREN CONVERSION FOR STOL OPERATIONS. THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST WITH 3 PASSENGERS ON BOARD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE TAKEOFF AREA, AFTER TURNING TO A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS FLYING VERY SLOW & WAS DESCENDING WHILE IN A BANKED ATTITUDE. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT OFTEN FLEW CLOSE TO THE ACFT'S PERFORMANCE LIMITS DURING TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS. THE DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 2000 FT.
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: 314 hours in all; 131 in this make and model; 286 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 844 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Winlock WA at 3:24 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 55 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from TDO, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.