Cessna 182Q accident near Anacortes, Washington, February 2, 1991
On February 2, 1991 at about 1:15 am local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N96378, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anacortes, Washington (Anacortes airport). It was a positioning 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
THE PILOT IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISIONS. THE HIGH WIND WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1991 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Anacortes, Washington · Anacortes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N96378 · no longer on the register · serial 18266702
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING WITHOUT INCIDENT WITH 35 TO 40 KNOT WINDS, THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING TAXIED TO THE PARKING RAMP, WHEN A GUST OF WIND FROM THE REAR RAISED THE TAIL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PROPELLER AND LEFT WING TIP CONTACTED THE GROUND.
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, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,007 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 8,215 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air San Juan
The flight
- Departed from: FHR Friday Harbor WA at 1:00 am
- Runway 18, 3,015 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 35 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°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.
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.