Swearingen SA-226T(B) accident near John Day, Oregon, January 16, 1993
On January 16, 1993 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Swearingen SA-226T(B), registered N161RS, was substantially damaged in an accident near John Day, Oregon (John Day airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDE A SNOW COVERED RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 1993 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- John Day, Oregon · John Day · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Swearingen SA-226T(B) · all SA-226T(B)s on the register
- Registration
- N161RS · registry record · serial T-341
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE RUNWAY HAD NOT BEEN PLOWED RECENTLY. DURING APPROACH, HE COULD IDENTIFY THE RUNWAY BECAUSE OF AIRPORT RUNWAY LIGHTS. HE STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT SNOW WAS THROWN UP BY THE PROPELLER(S) AFTER TOUCHDOWN, RESTRICTING HIS VISIBILITY. HE ELECTED TO STAY ON THE GROUND AT THAT TIME RATHER THAN ATTEMPT A GO AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING HIS ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 9,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-10 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBG Roseburg OR at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 16, 4,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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 N161RS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.