Amateur-built CHALLENGER II accident near Chiloquin, Oregon, July 23, 2000
On July 23, 2000 at about 3:15 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chiloquin, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Unsuitable terrain and the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2000 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Chiloquin, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II CHALLENGER
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial CH21193-1052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that prior to departure, the engine had been running rough and that he aborted two takeoffs prior to the flight. After changing the spark plugs, the flight departed. About ten minutes after departure, the engine lost power. During a left turn to a clearing over heavy timber terrain, the aircraft lost airspeed and went into a dive. The aircraft descended about 800 feet before the pilot was able to pull the nose up just prior to colliding with the terrain. The pilot reported that he thought that this aircraft met the requirements of an ultralight and had not maintained this aircraft in accordance with an annual inspection program. It was later determined that this aircraft did not meet the ultralight requirements and should have been issued an airworthiness certificate and registered. The cause of the loss of power was not determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 263 hours in all; 263 in this make and model; 263 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Chiloquin OR at 3:05 pm
- Destination: 2S7 Chiloquin OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.