Piper PA-28-201T accident near La Grande, Oregon, November 14, 2002
On November 14, 2002 at about 10:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-201T, registered N2208Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Grande, Oregon. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Inadequate supervision and the premature raising of flaps before a positive climb was established.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 2002 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- La Grande, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-201T · all PA-28-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2208Y · no longer on the register · serial 28-7921014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a private pilot check ride with a student pilot and pilot examiner, the student was simulating an engine out emergency landing procedure to an open field. Full flaps had been extended when the field was attainable. The examiner stated that he called for the go-around when the aircraft was about 100 feet agl. The student stated that at this time, he reached over to push in the throttle, however, the examiners hand was still on the throttle control. The throttle was only pushed in about half way and the student felt the power kick in and he reached over and retracted two notches of flaps. The aircraft then entered a pronounced sink rate. The aircraft touched down, then became airborne for a short distance before nosing down and colliding with the up sloping terrain. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported by either the student pilot or the examiner. The examiner reported in a written statement that from the time he realized that they were going to impact the terrain, to the time the aircraft came to rest, he did nothing to assist the student pilot and found it odd that he did not attempt to help. The examiner felt that the student had been executing the go-around procedures properly.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 75 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGD La Grande OR at 9:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from LGD, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.