Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Chehalem Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Newberg, Oregon 97132
Thursday, June 26, 2003 14:38 PDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
A witness to the accident reported that the pilot of the accident airplane made numerous high-speed taxi runs prior to the accident flight. After completing the taxi maneuvers, the pilot told the witness he was apprehensive about trying to fly the airplane on account of localized gusty winds. After talking to the witness, the pilot taxied back to the runway and resumed the taxi tests. The witness reported that after completing a number of passes down the runway, he observed the airplane takeoff. He reported that the airplane appeared to be porpoising as it ascended over the runway. Additional witnesses reported that they observed the airplane in a climbing right turn over the airport. The airplane climbed to about 200-300 above ground level (AGL) and appeared to be in a modified downwind for runway 25. The witnesses reported that as the pilot turned from right base to final, the airplane abruptly pitched nose down (approximately 60 degrees). The witnesses reported that the airplane momentarily returned to a level flight attitude, but pitched down a second time just before impacting terrain in a nose low attitude. Maintenance records indicated that the airplane was issued a special airworthiness certificate, experimental category, on April 23, 2003. The accident flight was the airplanes first flight subsequent to receiving the airworthiness certificate. Post accident examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
Aircraft control not maintained while maneuvering for landing.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 6/26/2003 |
| Event Day of the Week | Thursday |
| Time of Event | 1438 |
| Event Time Zone | Pacific Daylight Time |
| Event City | Newberg |
| Event State | OREGON |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 97132 |
| Event Date Year | 2003 |
| Event Date Month | 6 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 451925N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1230316W |
| Event Location Airport | CHEHALEM AIRPARK |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | 17S |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 0.1 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 190 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Unknown |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 2153 Pacific Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 90 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KUAO |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 200 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 13 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | PST |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | None |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 32 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 12 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 30 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 6 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.02 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | 1 |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 1 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 16187 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA-ROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | Jun 26 2003 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1503 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Sep 1 2004 7:08AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\MONR |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Hillsboro, Oregon |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N1424 |
| NTSB Number | SEA03LA118 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Herrin |
| Aircraft Model | Hornet |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 00025 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 1000 |
| 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 | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Nov 22 2002 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 1 |
| Airframe Hours | 1 |
| ELT Installed | No |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Charles W. Herrin |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | McMinnville |
| Aircraft Owner State | OR |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 97128 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| 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? | -- |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | -- |
| 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 | 17S |
| Departure City | NEWBERG |
| Departure State | OR |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1430 |
| Departure Time Zone | PDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | 17S |
| Destination City | -- |
| Destination State | -- |
| Destination Country | -- |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Approach |
| Report sent to ICAO? | No |
| Evacuation occurred | No |
| Date of most recent change to record | Mar 10 2004 7:55PM |
| User who most recently changed record | STAM |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 25 |
| Runway Length | 2300 |
| Runway Width | 40 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |