Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elgin, Oregon 97827
Sunday, July 2, 1989 20:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT MADE A SOUTHERLY TAKEOFF FROM HIS SHORT/UNEVEN GRASS AIRSTRIP IN HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT WITH 3 OCCUPANTS ABOARD. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, IT STALLED AT LOW ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE & BURNED. ABOUT 23 MI SOUTH AT LA GRANDE, OR, THE WIND WAS CALM; WITNESSES AT THE ACCIDENT SITE INDICATED THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 5 TO 10 KTS. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 4100 FT. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN 2:15 HOURS IN THE PREVIOUS 9 MONTHS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF/INITIAL CLIMB, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: QUARTERING TAILWIND, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City ELGIN
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97827
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 7
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 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 190
Airport Elevation 2750
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2000 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 185
Weather Observation Facility ID LGD
Elevation of weather observation facility 2713
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 4100
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1905
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 2 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41035
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:53PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6941B
NTSB Number SEA89FA126
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-150
Aircraft Serial Number 22-4221
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 15 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 28
Airframe Hours 1752
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILES B. BATES
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT., 2 BOX 91A
Aircraft Owner City ELGIN
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97827
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 06
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1958
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 1300
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --