- Date
- November 15, 1995, 07:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- La Grande, OR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N932APiper PA-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951115036529A
- Case key
- 42309
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 poor judgment in attempting flight in the existing wind conditions.
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 pilot reported that he positioned the airplane in the run-up area with the nose into the wind. While performing the run-up, a swirling gust of wind contacted the airplane. The pilot added power to try to keep the tail down, but the tail continued to rise and the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest inverted. At the time of the accident, the automated weather observation/reporting system on the airport was reporting the wind from 190 degrees at 29 knots, with gusts to 40 knots.
Factual narrative
On November 15, 1995, at 0730 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA- 22, N932A, nosed over in the run-up area at the La Grande Airport, La Grande Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was preparing for take off and was destined for Weiser, Idaho.
During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he had positioned the airplane into the wind and was performing the pre- flight run-up when a swirling gust of wind contacted the airplane. The pilot added power to try to keep the tail down, however, the tail continued to rise and the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest inverted.
The La Grande Automated Weather Observing/Reporting System (AWOS) at 0735, reported the winds from 190 degrees at 29 knots with gusts to 40 knots. At 0755, the winds were reported from 180 degrees at 29 knots with gusts to 45 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N932A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-236
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D2, 135 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert H. Elton
- Registered owner
- David Mcclain
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Destination
- S87 · Weiser, ID
- Airport
- LGD · La Grande
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
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,154 total · 611 in this make and model · 109 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 29 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LGD
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.