Bitton/Sport Flight Aviation Talon accident near Boring, Oregon, February 10, 2002
On February 10, 2002 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Bitton/Sport Flight Aviation Talon, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boring, 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
Loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 2002 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Boring, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bitton/Sport Flight Aviation Talon, amateur-built
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial UNK
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness reported seeing the accident aircraft in level flight traveling westbound at an estimated altitude of 800 feet above ground (AGL). The witness stated that about five minutes later he observed the accident aircraft in a "vertical dive" from an estimated altitude of 350 AGL. He stated that the vertical dive continued until approximately 150 feet AGL where he observed the pitch attitude change to a nose high attitude. Shortly thereafter the witness lost sight of the aircraft when it descended behind a building. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) conducted the onsite examination and reported that the aircraft impacted terrain in a nearly vertical attitude and extensive impact damage was noted to the airframe, flight controls and cockpit area. Subsequent to the accident, family members of the pilot notified the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) that during the wreckage recovery it was noted that a flight control linkage bolt and retaining nut (used to secure the control linkage to the elevator bell crank) was missing from its installed position. According to family members of the pilot, a bolt matching the description and dimensions of linkage bolt was found in the area of the wreckage, however, it was not determined whether or not it was the bolt in question, or if it had separated from its installed position before or after impact.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 405 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 995 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hks Aviation HKS-700 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sandy OR at 8:30 pm
- Destination: Boring OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 112° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KTTD, 8 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 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.