Piper PA-18-150 accident near Burns Junction, Oregon, August 31, 1989
On August 31, 1989 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N83330, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burns Junction, Oregon (Burns Junction airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1989 · about 3:00 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Burns Junction, Oregon · Burns Junction · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N83330 · registry record · serial 18-7609080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF FROM A SHORT DIRT FIELD, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A STALL AT LOW ALTITUDE. HE MANAGED TO ROLL THE AIRCRAFT WINGS LEVEL JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 360 DEG, 3 KTS GUSTING 8 KTS.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 62 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Portland OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°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.
Other NTSB records under N83330 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N83330 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-18 Super Cub 3,620 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,839 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 27,305 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Oregon 1,864 since 1982 · 279 in the last ten years
- Oregon 7,001 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N83330 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA89LA165.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.