Cessna 182 accident near Atlanta, Idaho, August 26, 1989
On August 26, 1989 at about 11:14 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5451B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atlanta, Idaho (Atlanta airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILUE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE DOWNDRAFT CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE DOWNWIND, DOWNDRAFT, AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1989 · about 11:14 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Idaho · Atlanta · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5451B · no longer on the register · serial 33451
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE OVER FLEW THE RUNWAY AT 500-600 FT AGL TO DETERMINE WIND DIRECTION AND THAT THE RUNWAY WAS CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS. AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT, LOST 300-400 FT, AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING WITH A TAILWIND OF 8-10 MPH. THE STRIP IS LOCATED IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA WITH HIGH TIMBERED RIDGES THAT LIMIT MANEUVERING. ELEVATION IS 5,500 FT MSL.
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: 500 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 1980; 202 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BOI Boise ID at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,650 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 25 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.