Roberts Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Redmond, Oregon 97756
Friday, May 14, 2010 7:18 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A witness who was located in a vehicle adjacent to the accident site reported that while conducting a routine daily runway inspection, he observed the airplane in a near vertical attitude above the departure end of the active runway. The witness estimated that the airplane was about 100 to 200 feet above the ground when it performed a 360-degree roll and stalled. It then entered a nose-low attitude, made another 360-degree roll, and descended below a tree line. Another witness reported that he observed the airplane depart the active runway and initiate a normal climb. As the airplane reached the departure end of the runway it entered an abrupt climb at an approximate 90-degree angle. The witness further stated that the airplane climbed for approximately 200 feet, nosed over, and descended into the ground. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no pre impact mechanical malfunctions. Toxicology tests of post-mortem samples from the pilot detected Amlodipine, a prescription medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure. The medication typically does not have any adverse effects, and is routinely approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall and collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/14/2010
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 718
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Redmond
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97756
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 441514N
Event Location Longitude 1210859W
Event Location Airport Roberts Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RDM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3080
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 723 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID RDM
Elevation of weather observation facility 3080
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
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) 28312
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2011 3:07PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6967P
NTSB Number WPR10FA239
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24-2108
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 2143
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Sheldon Arnett
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Redmond
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97756
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Sheldon Arnett
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Redmond
Operator State OR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 97756
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code RDM
Departure City Redmond
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 718
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Burns
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2011 3:07PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 7006
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --