- Date
- September 23, 2000, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Newberg, OR
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8315LCessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000923015539A
- Case key
- 50341
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path on final approach. Factors include a vehicle on the roadway and a downdraft.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The certified flight instructor and student pilot were on final approach for the intended runway. Shortly before touchdown, the airplane encountered a downdraft and subsequently collided with a truck that was traveling on a road adjacent to the airport.
Factual narrative
On September 23, 2000, about 1330 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172, N8315L, sustained substantial damage after colliding with a vehicle while the airplane was on final approach to Chehalem Airpark, Newberg, Oregon. The airplane is owned and operated by Blue Max Flying Club, Incorporated, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor, and student pilot both sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
In a written statement, the certified flight instructor reported that the airplane was on final approach to runway 07. Shortly before touchdown, with the flight instructor flying the airplane, the airplane encountered a downdraft and subsequently collided with a dump truck traveling southbound on an adjacent county road that runs perpendicular to the runway. After colliding with the truck, the airplane impacted the runway and slid to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Both main gear legs and the nose wheel strut separated from their respective attach points when the airplane collided with the truck.
According to the United States Government Airport/Facility Director, runway 07 at Chehalem Airpark is 2,285 feet in length, with a 300-foot displaced threshold. The displaced threshold is approximately 318 feet from the center of the county road.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8315L
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17256515
- Airframe hours
- 4,650
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Blue Max Flying Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 28, 1999
- Departed
- 17S
- Airport
- 17S · Chehalem, runway 7, 2,285 × 40 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 842 total · 122 in this make and model · 657 as pilot in command · 49 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MMV, 7 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.