Cushing C2 N129C
9 July 1989 · John Day, Oregon, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 9 July 1989 at about 18:43 local time, a Cushing C2 registered N129C was involved in an accident near John Day, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:43
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- John Day, Oregon, United States
- Nearest airport
- John Day (5JD)
- Coordinates
- 44.4192, -118.9406
- Aircraft
- Cushing C2
- Registration
- N129C
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA89LA130
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT IMPROPERLY CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE AIRPLANE BY ELONGATING HOLES AT THE WING ATTACHMENT. THE CHANGE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL. AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGE, THE WING SEPARATED AT THE SPAR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
PRIOR TO THE PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN ASSEMBLING THE LEFT WING, THE MOUNT BOLTS WOULD NOT ALIGN. THE PILOT DRILLED NEW HOLES ELONGATING THE ORIGINAL HOLES. THE WING WAS ASSEMBLED AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF. JUST AFTER LIFT OFF, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO PORPOISE. SHORTLY THERE AFTER, THE LEFT WING FOLDED BACK AND UP. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED INVERTED TO THE LEFT AND SKIDDED DOWN THE RUNWAY. POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE WING BROKE AWAY AT THE SPAR. DRY ROT WAS NOTED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Nov 1989 | Hughes 269C | Estacada, Oregon, United States | Helicopter Enterprises | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Nov 1989 | Hughes 369D | Stayton, Oregon, United States | Associated Helicopter Svcs | No injuries | - |
| 30 Oct 1989 | Bellanca 17-30 | Newberg, Oregon, United States | BEN F. Smithers | No injuries | - |
| 25 Dec 1989 | Cessna 172M | Salem, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Mar 1989 | Piper PA-60-601P | Lakeview, Oregon, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 23 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-28-181 | Chiloquin, Oregon, United States | Southwest Air Charter | Serious injuries | - |