Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Estacada, Oregon 97023
Sunday, March 28, 1993 21:50 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE TROUTDALE AIRPORT ON A DARK NIGHT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT PROCEEDED ALONG A COURSE THAT TOOK THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD RISING TERRAIN. IT EVENTUALLY IMPACTED TREES ON MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN. THE RIGHT TURN WAS BRINGING THE HEADING OF THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD A COURSE WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CONSISTENT WITH A ROUTE TO THE INTENDED DESTINATION. IMPACT OCCURRED AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 4200 FEET. ABOUT 30 MILES NORTHWEST AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT (ELEVATION 35 FEET), THE 2146 WEATHER WAS IN PART: 3500' BROKEN, 15 MILES VISIBILITY, WIND FROM 270 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE (AND/OR ALTITUDE) FROM MOUTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, CLOUDS, LOW CEILINGS, AND THE HIGH (MOUNTAINOUS) TERRAIN IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT SITE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/28/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2150
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City ESTACADA
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97023
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 3
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2146 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID TTD
Elevation of weather observation facility 35
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 756
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 29 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:12PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N63888
NTSB Number SEA93FA084
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-23-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-250
Aircraft Serial Number 27-7854033
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 23 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RYAN, LAWRENCE J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2395 GREINER
Aircraft Owner City EUGENE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97405
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RYAN, LAWRENCE J.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2395 GREINER
Operator City EUGENE
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97405
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 No
Departure Airport Code TTD
Departure City PORTLAND
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 2135
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CVO
Destination City CORVALIS
Destination State OR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
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 --