Cessna A185F accident near Spray, Oregon, May 23, 1992
On May 23, 1992 at about 1:25 am local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N61167, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spray, Oregon (Spray airport). It was a personal 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'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. FACTORS INCLUDE SOFT AND UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1992 · about 1:25 am local time
- Place
- Spray, Oregon · Spray · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N61167 · registry record · serial 18504118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OVERFLEW THE UNIMPROVED AIRSTRIP, WHICH HAD BEEN PARTIALLY PLOWED, THEN ELECTED TO LAND UPSLOPE. HE TOUCHED DOWN IN THE PLOWED AREA, ABOUT 150 FEET SHORT OF THE UNPLOWED SECOND HALF OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER, SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AFTER TOUCHDOWN.
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: 870 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 870 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1991; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EUG Eugene OR at 11:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,650 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.