Portland Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Portland, Oregon 97218
Tuesady, September 26, 1989 13:21 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AT THE END OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, APPROACHING THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND AND CAUTIONED OF WAKE TURBULENCE FROM A LARGE AIRPLANE LANDING AHEAD OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO KEEP A TIGHT PATTERN AND FOLLOW THE LARGE AIRPLANE. WHILE ON SHORT FINAL THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED THE WAKE TURBULENCE OF THE LARGE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE WAKE TURBULENCE AND REMEDIAL ACTION NOT POSSIBLE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1321
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City PORTLAND
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97218
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PORTLAND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PDX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 26
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PDX
Elevation of weather observation facility 26
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
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 Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1987
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 26 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1440
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41183
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3660W
NTSB Number SEA89LA178
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-567
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 8 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 53
Airframe Hours 5455
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NEPPLE, JOHN G.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14430 SE CENTER ST.
Aircraft Owner City PORTLAND
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97236
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code YVR
Departure City VANCOUVER
Departure State OF
Departure Country
Departure Time 1120
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 28R
Runway Length 8004
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --