# NTSB SEA07LA071: Piper PA-28-140, N5547F, Crescent Lake, OR, March 6, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 5, 2007, 16:00 local (Mar 6, 2007, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Crescent Lake, OR - Coordinates: 43.583889, -122.186668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5839&lon=-122.1867&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65386/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA071 ## Probable cause The loss of a significant amount of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors include no suitable place in which to make an emergency landing, and densely forested, mountainous/hilly terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot, who was flying between 800 and 1,000 feet above the trees in mountainous/hilly terrain, decided to add power and start a climb up the valley he was in. Just as he added power, the aircraft's engine rpm dropped from about 2,300 to about 1,800 to 1,900 rpm. At that point, he applied full carburetor heat, moved the mixture to full rich, and checked to make sure the fuel selector was in the correct position. According to both the pilot and his passenger, these remedial actions did not help the situation, and the engine rpm stayed near 1,800 rpm. Because the terrain was rising and the aircraft could not maintain altitude, and because they were already very low, the pilot made the decision to attempt a forced landing in the densely forested snow-covered mountainous terrain. While attempting the landing, the aircraft struck a number of trees, and then impacted the snow-covered ground in an inverted position. A post-accident inspection of the airframe, systems, and engine did not reveal evidence of any pre-impact anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded the engine from operating at full power. ## Factual narrative On March 5, 2007, approximately 1600 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N5547F, collided with trees during an attempted forced landing about 10 miles northwest of Crescent Lake, Oregon. The commercial pilot and his passenger received serious injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned by K & J Capital, LLC., and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Eugene, Oregon, about 45 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. Reportedly, the pilot intended to return to Eugene after flying around the Crescent Lake area. According to the pilot, he was flying between 800 and 1,000 feet above the trees in mountainous/hilly terrain, when, because of rising terrain, he decided to add power and start a climb up the valley he was in. Just as he added power, the aircraft's engine rpm dropped from about 2,300 to about 1,800 to 1,900 rpm. At that point, according to the pilot, he applied full carburetor heat, moved the mixture to full rich, and checked to make sure the fuel selector was in the correct position. According to both the pilot and his passenger, these remedial actions did not help the situation, and the engine rpm stayed near 1,800. Because the terrain was rising and the aircraft could not maintain altitude, and because they were already very low, the pilot made the decision to attempt a forced landing in the densely forested mountainous terrain. While attempting the landing on the snow-covered terrain, the aircraft struck a number of trees, and then impacted the ground in an inverted position. A post-accident inspection of the airframe, systems, and engine did not reveal evidence of any pre-impact anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded the engine from operating at full power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5547F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5547F-2009-07-08), registration cancelled 2009-07-08, S/N 28-24810, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24810 - Airframe hours: 6487 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Justin J. Hall - Registered owner: K & J Capital LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2006, 23 hours before - Departed: KEUG, Eugene, OR - Destination: KEUG, Eugene, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 573 total, 275 in this make and model, 485 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KRDM, 55 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070305003259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070305003259A), Mar 5, 2007: Piper PA28140, Crescent Lake, OR, Destroyed. (-23) On 3-5-07 at 1630 local pdst, N5547F a Piper PA-28-140 departed eugene, OR (eug) and was 10 miles east of Crescent Lake, OR (5S2). The pilot has a CFI,… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.