Socata MS894A accident near Wasco, Oregon, March 26, 1986
On March 26, 1986, a Socata MS894A, registered N54BF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasco, Oregon (Wasco State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was 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
- March 26, 1986
- Place
- Wasco, Oregon · Wasco State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata MS894A
- Registration
- N54BF · registry record · serial 12010
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHEAR ON FINAL. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WIND WAS RECORDED TO BE FROM THE SOUTH/SOUTHEAST AT TWO KNOTS WITH PEAK WINDS AT FOUR KNOTS. WHEN THE PLT NOTICED THAT HIS AIRSPEED HAD DETERIORATED TO 50 MPH, HE WENT FROM 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS TO FULL FLAPS AND ALSO ADDED FULL POWER. THE ACFT STRUCK TWO TREES BEFORE IT DESCENDED TO THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE ACFT HAS NO STALL WARNING INDICATOR.
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: 269 hours in all; 264 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 233 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 823 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 9, 1985; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,425 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 220 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGD La Grande OR at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 35S Wasco OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,700 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 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.