Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Scappoose, Oregon 97056
Friday, September 8, 1995 11:38 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses observed the homebuilt aircraft depart from runway 15, and then they heard the pilot announce his intentions to return to land on runway 33 with no suggestion of any difficulty. The aircraft was observed to roll off from a turn into a spin and descend to the ground. An on-site examination revealed no evidence of flight control or powerplant malfunction. Investigation revealed the aircraft's weight equaled or exceeded its maximum gross takeoff weight limit. The aircraft was equipped with a recovery parachute system. The parachute system had been activated, but it had not fully deployed before ground impact.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall/spin. Although the aircraft recovery parachute had been activated, there was not enough time (or altitude) for it to fully deploy.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/8/1995
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1138
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SCAPPOOSE
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97056
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID PDX
Elevation of weather observation facility 27
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1804
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 8 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N838TG
NTSB Number SEA95LA211
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GIFT
Aircraft Model CHALLENGER II
Aircraft Series Identifier CHALLENGER
Aircraft Serial Number CH20492B0838
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GIFT, TOBIAS, E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 32405 WIKSTROM ROAD
Aircraft Owner City SCAPPOOSE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97056
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 1S4
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1135
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City VANCOUVER
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - uncontrolled
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --