Piper PA-22-135 accident near Ontario, Oregon, November 17, 2000
On November 17, 2000 at about 8:18 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N3762A, was destroyed in an accident near Ontario, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Overstress loading to the left wing lift strut resulting in the left wing folding upward during the initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2000 · about 8:18 pm local time
- Place
- Ontario, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N3762A · no longer on the register · serial 22-2004
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the climb-out from takeoff at about 200 feet above ground level, the left wing just outboard of the lift strut wing attach points folded upward. The aircraft then went into a vertical descent with the wing section trailing and still attached by what one witness thought were the control cables. The aircraft continued the vertical descent to ground collision. During the descent the forward left wing lift strut separated. Sections of the left side forward and aft lift strut attach fittings and fork assemblies were examined by an NTSB metallurgist. The metallurgist reported that all fracture features and deformation were typical of overstress fractures under bending load. Historical maintenance documentation revealed that the pilot, a non-mechanic, had been doing extensive structural maintenance on the aircraft since the late 1970's, and then having a certified mechanic sign-off his work.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,163 hours in all; 784 in this make and model; 1,908 as pilot in command; 639 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,937 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 2000; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ONO at 8:15 pm
- Destination: Weiser ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 106°F (41°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:03 pm from ONO, 1 miles away
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 N3762A 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.