Cessna 182 accident near N. Bonneville, Washington, January 31, 1989
On January 31, 1989, a Cessna 182, registered N3254Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Bonneville, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SOME FORM OF CARBURETOR MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PLANNED FORCED LANDING APPROACH BY THE PLT WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE LANDING SHORT OF THE DESIRED LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1989
- Place
- N. Bonneville, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N3254Y · no longer on the register · serial 51828
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT PURCHASED THE ACFT AND OBTAINED A FERRY PERMIT (DELINQUENT ANNUAL). AFTER THE FIRST STOP, THE PLT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING THE ENG. THE ENG WOULD START THEN DIE ON THROTTLE APPLICATION. A MECHANIC ADVISED THE PLT THAT THE CARB HEAT WAS IN NEED OF AN OVERHAUL. DURING CRUISE FLT, THE PLT NOTED VISIBLE MOISTURE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND APPLIED CARB HEAT. THE PLT LATER NOTED THE CARB HEAT TEMP 'IN YELLOW' AND ADDED MORE HEAT AFTER WHICH THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENG AND THE ENG WOULD FIRE BUT DIE ON THROTTLE APPLICATION. A FORCED LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED ON AN ISLAND. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN 100 FT SHORT AND SANK. DISASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION OF THE CARB SHOWED NO MECH FAILURE OR UNDUE WEAR/TEAR; HOWEVER, INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL IF THE CARB WAS SET WITHIN SPECS.
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: 420 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 380 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,697 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1986; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ONO Ontario OR at 9:15 pm
- Destination: WA72 Yelm WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N3254Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.