Nanchang CJ-6A accident near Molalla, Oregon, May 3, 1996
On May 3, 1996 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Nanchang CJ-6A, registered N62160, was substantially damaged in an accident near Molalla, Oregon (Skydive airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 adequately plan the approach, and his misjudgment of distance and speed during the landing. The wet runway was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1996 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Molalla, Oregon · Skydive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nanchang CJ-6A · all CJ-6As on the register
- Registration
- N62160 · no longer on the register · serial 3632011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff for a long cross-country ferry flight, he did not think that the engine sounded right and he made a precautionary landing to an airfield. The pilot stated that the runway was wet, and when he applied brakes, the airplane did not slow sufficiently to stop before it traveled off the runway and collided with a ditch. After the accident, the braking system was inspected and no mechanical failure or malfunction was found. The tires displayed a worn spot, and the tread was melted. Later, the pilot reported that he did not feel that the brakes failed. He believed that due to the wet runway and landing long (1,000 feet down the 2,400 foot runway), he was not able to stop the airplane before it ran off the runway.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 285 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 1996; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Housia 6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3S2 Aurora OR at 10:00 pm
- Destination: LMT Klamath Falls OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,400 ft by 24 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA96LA087.