Piper PA-28-140 N454FL

Summary

On 15 October 2004 at about 01:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N454FL was involved in an accident near Grand Ronde, Oregon, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 October 2004 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Ronde, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

45.0175, -123.7556

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N454FL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

McMinnville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

SEA05FA007

3 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from high terrain while maneuvering. A factor contributing to the accident was the high terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot, accompanied by his two passengers, departed on a local flight with the intention of returning in two hours. After the aircraft failed to return, search and rescue operations began. The aircraft was located the following afternoon in a dense forested area approximately 32 miles southwest of its destination. A witness who was hunting in the general vicinity on the day of the accident observed the airplane approach from the south and circle the area to the northwest in a deliberate manner. The witness was concerned about the airplane's low altitude over the hilly terrain and noted, "...it looked very slow, almost at stall speed, with the tail lower than the front of the airplane." The witness listened for any indication of engine trouble, "...but it was smooth and powerful." The witness observed the airplane disappear over some trees to the east, and about 10 to 15 minutes later it returned overhead, proceeding east again until it was out of sight. The witness found out later that the airplane he observed was the same one which had crashed. Examination of the aircraft revealed no anomalies which would preclude normal operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.