# NTSB WPR26LA133: Piper PA-12, N7632H, West Linn, OR, March 19, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: March 18, 2026, 17:00 local (Mar 19, 2026, 00:00 UTC) - Place: West Linn, OR - Coordinates: 45.938167, -122.81733 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9382&lon=-122.8173&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 202683 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA133 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202683/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA133 ## Preliminary report On March 18, 2026, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N7632H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near West Linn, Oregon. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed Portland Hillsboro Airport (HIO), Hillsboro, Oregon, about 1500, en route to an off-airport landing area on Goat Island, located in the Willamette River. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that, during takeoff from an unimproved surface on Goat Island, the airplane accelerated normally. As the airplane reached rotation speed and became light on the landing gear, it made a sudden, sharp left turn. The airplane departed the takeoff area, traveled over the shoreline, and came to rest in the Willamette River, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear had separated. The forward attach point exhibited longitudinal tears, and the aft attach point displayed cracking and buckling of the rear gear leg. The airplane was recovered to a secure location. The left main landing gear leg was retained for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7632H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7632H), registered now, S/N 12-507, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12 - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-507 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 5269.3 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 2026 - Departed: HIO, Hillsboro, OR - Destination: West Linn, OR - Airport: None, Shoreline Goat Island - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: SPB, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KSPB 182253Z AUTO 11004KT 10SM CLR 18/06 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP174 T01830061 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20260318003779I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260318003779I), Mar 18, 2026: Piper PA-12, St. Helens, WA, Substantial damage. On March 18, around 15:30 local time, N7632H departed the hillsboro, or (hio) airport for the purpose of, as described by the pilot, some fun flying along the… ## Other investigations on N7632H (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR22LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA295), Jul 22, 2022: Piper PA-12 (N7632H), Lexington, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a gusting wind. 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.