- Date
- June 17, 1998, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Harrisburg, OR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1XWCasa BU-131
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 11, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980617013989A
- Case key
- 42803
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
A failed bracket attaching the throttle linkage, which resulted in the inability to control power, and unsuitable terrain for a successful forced landing. Factors include soft terrain with high vegetation.
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 stated that he throttled back to descend. At about 1500 feet, he opened the throttle and got no response; the engine remained at idle. At 1000 feet, he was committed to land and chose a 40 acre field rather than attempt a landing on the highway. He was down and rolling when the airplane nosed over in soft terrain and tall rye grass. FAA inspectors determined that a bracket attaching the throttle linkage broke, causing the pilot to be unable to modulate engine power. The airplane nosed over, damaging the upper wing and vertical fin.
Factual narrative
On June 17, 1998, approximately 1100 Pacific daylight time, a CASA BU-131 sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Harrisburg, Oregon, after a loss of power while en route from Hillsboro, Oregon, to Cottage Grove, Oregon. The private pilot and his passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. There was no report of an ELT activating.
The pilot stated that he throttled back to descend. At about 1500 feet, he opened the throttle and got no response; the engine remained at idle. At 1000 feet, he was committed to land and chose a 40 acre field rather than attempt a landing on the highway. He was down and rolling when the airplane nosed over in soft terrain and tall rye grass.
FAA inspectors determined that a bracket attaching the throttle linkage broke, causing the pilot to be unable to modulate engine power. The airplane nosed over, damaging the upper wing and vertical fin.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1XW
- Reported as
- Casa BU-131
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 628
- Engine
- Emsa TIGRE, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert R. Mcausland
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- HIO · Hillsboro, OR
- Destination
- 61S · Cottage Grove, OR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 69
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 2,823 total · 400 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CV
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.