Amateur-built DH 82A accident near White City, Oregon, March 20, 1990
On March 20, 1990 at about 9:15 pm local time, a amateur-built DH 82A, registered N353FG, was substantially damaged in an accident near White City, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION TO PREVENT AN UNDERSHOOT. HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE ON FINAL APPROACH WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 1990 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- White City, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DH 82A
- Registration
- N353FG · no longer on the register · serial DE-632
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ENTERED A HIGH TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING AND REDUCED THE THROTTLE TO MINIMUM POWER SETTING. HE SLOWLY INCREASED THE THROTTLE TO CORRECT FOR AN UNDER SHOOT ANGLE OF DESCENT ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH AND THE ENGINE DID NOT INSTANTLY RESPOND. HE FURTHER INCREASED THE THROTTLE AND ENGINE POWER INCREASED ABOUT THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES 250 FT FROM THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,844 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 9,540 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1989; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,825 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: De Havilland GYPSY MAJOR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFR Medford OR at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from MFR, 5 miles away
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.