- Date
- May 4, 2007, 15:55 local (22:55 UTC)
- Place
- Chiloquin, OR
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1394CPiper PA-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20070504007799A
- Case key
- 65711
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 aircraft control during takeoff and initial climb. High vegetation was a factor.
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 private pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from runway 35, "the plane settled and would not climb. I believe we were in a downdraft. Thinking we could not clear rising terrain ahead, I turned into the wind." The pilot stated that after turning into the wind the airplane climbed better, but he still felt as if the airplane was in a downdraft. After maneuvering the airplane, the pilot acknowledged that the airplane was going to contact the ground and pulled the yoke full aft "to land uphill." The airplane contacted the ground, encountered heavy brush, and nosed-over resulting in substantial damage. The pilot did not report any pre-accident mechanical anomalies. The pilot reported that the airplane's gross weight at takeoff was 1,989 pounds. He reported that the airplane's maximum gross takeoff weight was 2,000 pounds. The winds were from 320 degrees magnetic at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The temperature was 50 degrees F and the airport elevation was 4,217 feet above mean sea level (msl).
Factual narrative
The private pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from runway 35, "the plane settled and would not climb. I believe we were in a downdraft. Thinking we could not clear rising terrain ahead, I turned into the wind." The pilot stated that after turning into the wind the airplane climbed better, but he still felt as if the airplane was in a downdraft. After maneuvering the airplane, the pilot acknowledged that the airplane was going to contact the ground and pulled the yoke full aft "to land uphill." The airplane contacted the ground, encountered heavy brush, and nosed-over resulting in substantial damage. The pilot did not report any pre-accident mechanical anomalies.
At the time of the accident the airplane contained approximately 27 gallons of fuel (100LL). The pilot reported that the airplane's gross weight at takeoff was 1,989 pounds. He reported that the airplane's maximum gross takeoff weight was 2,000 pounds.
The pilot reported that the winds were from 320 degrees magnetic at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. He reported a temperature of 50 degrees F.
The published airport elevation for Chiloquin State is 4,217 feet above mean sea level (msl).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1394C
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-1149
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A1A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ronald E. Gullickson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 2S7 · Chiloquin, OR
- Destination
- 2S7 · Chiloquin, OR
- Airport
- 2S7 · Chiloquin State, runway 35, 3,735 × 60 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
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,160 total · 879 in this make and model · 18 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 50 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.