Cessna 185F accident near Salem, Oregon, September 4, 1995
On September 4, 1995, a Cessna 185F, registered N9222H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salem, Oregon (Mcnary Field). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1995
- Place
- Salem, Oregon · Mcnary Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185F · all 185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9222H · registry record · serial 18503423
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING BANNER PICKUP FOR A BANNER TOWING OPERATION, THE TOW LINE BECAME ENTANGLED WITH THE TAILWHEEL AND DISPLACED THE RUDDER TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A FLY-BY PAST HIS GROUND CREW TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO RELEASE THE BANNER OR LAND. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER THE FLY-BY HE ATTEMPTED TO ADD POWER TO GO AROUND, BUT SUSTAINED A LOSS OF POWER AT THAT TIME. HE DID A SHARP LEFT TURN TO AVOID OBSTACLES AND ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING ON THE AIRPORT. WITNESSES NOTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL AND THAT THE NOSE DROPPED DURING THE MANEUVER. NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND.
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: 5,667 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 123 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 5,563 as pilot in command; 2,881 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,879 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 1994; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLE at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°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.
Other NTSB records under N9222H 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.