# NTSB SEA97LA048: Piper PA-28-161, N8414B, Sun River, OR, January 12, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 11, 1997, 19:25 local (Jan 12, 1997, 03:25 UTC) - Place: Sun River, OR - Coordinates: 45.100849, -123.229637 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1008&lon=-123.2296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42554 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42554/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA048 ## Probable cause inadvertent VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain altitude/clearance above moutainous/wooded terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, adverse weather conditions, and the proximity of mountainous terrain. ## Analysis The pilot, who was accompanied by a private pilot observer, descended through a hole in the clouds, while diverting from the planned destination due to en route weather conditions. During the descent, visual contact with the surface was lost. The pilot stated that as he resumed level cruise flight, they saw snow-covered trees and attempted to climb by adding full power and pitching up. Also, he said that when they saw that the terrain was rising faster than the airplane was climbing, they pulled back on the control wheel and made a power-on mushing flare into the pine trees and came to a stop in 3 feet of snow. The two pilots spent the night with the wreckage in winter conditions and were rescued the following morning. ## Factual narrative On January 11, 1997, approximately 1925 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8414B, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and terrain during descent near Sunriver, Oregon. The two private pilots on board incurred minor injuries. A VFR flight plan was filed from Boise, Idaho, to Bend, Oregon. The flight departed Boise approximately 1700 mountain standard time. Visual meteorological conditions and dark night conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The ELT operated and was used during the ensuing search for the aircraft. The pilot-in-command stated that while en route they learned that Redmond airport was covered by a stratus cloud layer, so they decided to divert to Sunriver where some large holes had been reported by other aircraft. At that time, the sun was setting and it was getting dark. They were in radio contact with another flight school airplane which was about ten miles ahead of them on the same route to Bend. The pilots of that airplane informed them that they would be waiting for them over the openings in the undercast. When they arrived over a large hole, they made visual contact with the other aircraft as well as with some lights on the ground. At that time, it was full dark at their cruising altitude of 10,500 feet MSL (mean sea level). The airplane ahead descended through the hole and minutes later reported back that he had been successful and was proceeding to Bend. The pilot then descended through the same hole, where he lost visual contact with the surface. The pilot stated that when he rolled out into level cruise flight, they saw snow-covered trees and attempted to climb by adding full power and pitching up. The pilot stated that when they saw that the terrain was outclimbing the airplane, they pulled back on the control wheel and made a power-on mushing flare into the pine trees and came to a stop in 3 feet of snow. The pilots spent the night with the wreckage in winter inclement conditions and were rescued the following morning. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8414B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8414B-1997-03-04), registration cancelled 1997-03-04, S/N 288116268 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8116268 - Airframe hours: 6862 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lane Community College - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, October 15, 1996, 44 hours before - Departed: BOI, BOISE, ID - Destination: S07, BEND, OR - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 113 total, 40 in this make and model, 61 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 340° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: KRD ## 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 19970111000459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970111000459A), Jan 11, 1997: Piper PA28161, Sun River, OR, Substantial damage. Lost control descending thru hole in undercast at night. Saw trees on hill too late. Pulled up. Mushed into trees. 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.