Piper PA-18-150 accident near Frenchglen, Oregon, March 2, 1994
On March 2, 1994 at about 9:16 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N82951, was destroyed in an accident near Frenchglen, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM AIRSPEED (VS). THE TAILWIND WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1994 · about 9:16 pm local time
- Place
- Frenchglen, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N82951 · registry record · serial 18-7909035
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE PA-18 WAS MANEUVERING AT ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND NEAR A DIRT/GRAVEL ROAD WHICH SHE INTENDED TO USE AS A LANDING SITE. AFTER TURNING IN A DIRECTION SUCH THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXPERIENCING A DIRECT TAILWIND OF 15 TO 20 KNOTS, THE PILOT BEGAN A CLIMBING TURN. THE DIRECT TAILWIND INCREASED THE AIRCRAFT'S GROUND SPEED, CREATING THE ILLUSION THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S AIRSPEED HAD INCREASED AS WELL. DURING THE CLIMBING TURN, THE PILOT ALLOWED HER AIRSPEED TO DECREASE TO A POINT WHERE THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. HER REMEDIAL ACTION WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO RECOVER, AND THE AIRCRAFT SPUN INTO THE TERRAIN.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,735 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BNO Burns OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.