- Date
- September 30, 1989, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- Bridal Veil, OR
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- CGIWOPiper PA-28-151
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 2, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 40938
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
VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions, the pilot's lack of instrument experience, and possible spatial disorientation.
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 non-instrument rated plt (recently certified in Canada as a pvt plt) rcvd a wx briefing fm a fss & filed a VFR flt plan to portland, OR. He was briefed on mod turbc, lgt to mod icing, mountain obscurations & marginal VFR to IFR ceilings at the destination. Also, he was advised that VFR was not recommended. When the flt was about 20 mi east of portland arpt, the pilot contacted ATC & was advised to maintain VFR at 2000 ft for lndg straight-in at portland. About 2 min later, he rprtd he was dscndg to 1200 ft to remain VFR. Shortly thereafter, he encountered wx & initiated a climb in IMC. However, during the climb, the acft stalled, then descended out of control until impact with trees at 1200 ft MSL. About 9 mi west at the troutdale arpt (elev 36 ft), the 1518 PDT wx was in part: 1200 ft ovc, 3 mi vis with mod rain, wind from 230 deg at 6 KTS.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CGIWO
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-151
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7415372
- Airframe hours
- 7,488
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E3D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Skyway Air Service
- Registered owner
- Skyway Air Service Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 6, 1989 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- RNO · Reno, NV
- Destination
- PDX · Portland, OR
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- PDX · Portland
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 23
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 86 total · 30 in this make and model · 30 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- 77D, 9 nm away