Piper PA-23-160 N4439P

Summary

On 15 July 2004 at about 14:19 local time, a Piper PA-23-160 registered N4439P was involved in an accident near Ontario, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 July 2004 at 14:19

Classification

Accident

Location

Ontario, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Ontario Muni (ONO)

Coordinates

43.9861, -117.0017

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-160

Registration

N4439P

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boise → Ontario

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA04FA133

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an aerodynamic stall while maneuvering for an approach to land.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The FAR Part 91 instructional flight was the second pilot's third flight in two days in the multi-engine airplane. The second pilot had recently purchased the airplane to pursue a multi-engine rating. Witnesses reported that they observed the airplane traveling toward the airport from the southeast in a level flight attitude. A witness stated the airplane was traveling slowly "as if on a landing procedure." The witness stated that shortly thereafter the airplane appeared to "auger" toward the ground in a left wing low attitude. The witness reported that the airplane made approximately three revolutions before impacting the terrain in a nose low attitude. During the post crash examination of the airframe, it was noted that the emergency hydraulic pump handle was observed in the full aft (extended) position. The accident site was located approximately two miles from the destination airport. Examination of the airframe and both engines revealed no evidence of a pre crash failure or anomaly.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.