Amateur-built Fokker DR1 accident near Troutdale, Oregon, July 10, 2002
On July 10, 2002 at about 7:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Fokker DR1, registered N43SB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Troutdale, Oregon (Portland-Troutdale Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The collapse, for undetermined reasons, of the left main landing gear spoked-wheel structure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2002 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Troutdale, Oregon · Portland-Troutdale Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Fokker DR1
- Registration
- N43SB · no longer on the register · serial 29590ABV
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during his landing on runway 25, the aircraft bounced slightly and then touched down "normally," but during the landing roll, the left main wheel structure collapsed and the aircraft nosed over onto its top wing. This scenario was confirmed by a witness who was working near the runway and who had seen the aircraft land. An inspection of the wheel disclosed that all but three wire spokes had pulled out of the wheel rim. The pilot said that he had not noticed any loose spokes prior to takeoff, but that the grass strip he departed from was "pretty rough." The reason for the separation of the spokes from the wheel rim was not positively 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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 125 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 527 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 59S Vancouver WA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: TTD Troutdale OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 12:20 pm from TTD
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.
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.