# NTSB SEA86LA011: Cessna 172, N5790J, Lebanon, OR, October 12, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 12, 1985, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Lebanon, OR
- Coordinates: 44.519599, -122.810432 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5196&lon=-122.8104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40322
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA86LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40322/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86LA011

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OCCURRED DURING LANDING ROLL. THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT, STRUCK A DITCH AND THEN NOSED OVER. A HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING TO THE LEFT OF THE LANDING RWY, PROBABLY CAUSING ENOUGH WAKE TURBULENCE TO CAUSE THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS WERE ALSO PRESENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5790J (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273836
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: George Greer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: EUG, EUGENE, OR
- Destination: S12, ALBANY, OR
- Airport: S12, Albany Municipal, runway 34, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,600 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19851012071899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851012071899A), Oct 12, 1985: Cessna 172N, Lebanon, OR, Substantial damage. Pilot states that a hovering helicopters rotor wash caused airplane to veer off runway, hit a ditch and nosed over.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.