Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ashland, Oregon 97520
Wednesday, July 22, 1987 12:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT TOOK OFF IN OVERCAST WEATHER CONDITIONS AND FLEW TOWARD A MOUNTAIN PASS THAT WAS OBSCURED IN CLOUDS. WHEN THE FLIGHT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT THE DESTINATION, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED AND THE WRECKAGE LOCATED IN A BOX CANYON ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN RIDGELINE. THE AIRCRAFT HAD IMPACTED IN A VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/22/1987
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City ASHLAND
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97520
Event Date Year 1987
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1151 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 325
Weather Observation Facility ID MFR
Elevation of weather observation facility 1330
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5150
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) 1074
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34266
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:37PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2794B
NTSB Number SEA87FA149
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 AERO COMMANDER
Aircraft Model 560-A
Aircraft Series Identifier 560-A
Aircraft Serial Number 294
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
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 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 27
Airframe Hours 2179
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JESS LEE TERRY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 131 NE 16TH COURT
Aircraft Owner City HILLSBORO
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97124
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 No
Departure Airport Code MFR
Departure City MEDFORD
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1208
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SDM
Destination City SAN DIEGO
Destination State CA
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --