Cessna 182A accident near Grants Pass, Oregon, September 8, 1991
On September 8, 1991 at about 11:35 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N3974D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grants Pass, Oregon (Winkle Bar airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: MOTION SICKNESS OF THE PASSENGER, WET GRASS RUNWAY, THE PILOT'S SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE TO LAND AT THE ACCIDENT AIRPORT, AND THE DITCH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1991 · about 11:35 pm local time
- Place
- Grants Pass, Oregon · Winkle Bar · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N3974D · registry record · serial 34674
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON A WET GRASS 1200 FT AIRSTRIP, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT BRAKING ACTION WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE PILOT STEERED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY TO AVOID AN OVERRUN, BUT THE AIRCRAFT HIT A DITCH AND WAS DAMAGED.
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: 486 hours in all; 437 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 420 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°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.