Cessna 185E accident near North Bend, Oregon, February 4, 1993
On February 4, 1993 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 185E, registered N5849J, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Bend, Oregon (North Bend Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE A POOR INFLIGHT DECISION, AND GUSTY CROSSWINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 1993 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- North Bend, Oregon · North Bend Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185E · all 185Es on the register
- Registration
- N5849J · registry record · serial 18501818
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT CHOSE TO LAND ON A 2,300 FOOT LONG RUNWAY WHICH WAS ALIGNED APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGREES FROM THE CURRENT WIND. ANOTHER RUNWAY WAS AVAILABLE WHICH WAS 5,045 FEET LONG, AND ALIGNED ABOUT 30 DEGREES FROM THE CURRENT WIND. AFTER HE TOUCHED DOWN THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IN THE GUSTY CROSSWINDS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER FROM THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.
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: 950 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,306 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 3, 1992; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWT Bremerton WA at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.