Amateur-built Glasair II-S RG accident near Baker City, Oregon, June 6, 2004
On June 6, 2004, a amateur-built Glasair II-S RG, registered N711LN, was destroyed in an accident near Baker City, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision and his failure to maintain an airspeed above stall speed (Vs) after encountering airframe icing during cruise flight. Factors include the pilot's intentional continuation of his flight along the planned route after encountering icing conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2004
- Place
- Baker City, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Glasair II-S RG
- Registration
- N711LN · registry record · serial 2174
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While cruising at 14,000 feet, the pilot requested a climb to 17,000 feet. Just after being cleared to climb to that altitude, the pilot advised Center that he was experiencing light to moderate airframe icing. He continued on course to 17,000 feet, and about five minutes after receiving the climb clearance he transmitted that he was in a bad spin. One minute and 20 seconds later the aircraft passed through 5,200 feet, and ten seconds later was lost from radar at an undetermined altitude. The pilot made two other transmissions during the uncontrolled descent, during both of which he stated that he was in a bad left spin. Federal Aviation Administration records indicate that the air mass that the pilot was flying through was moist and unstable. Numerous AIRMETS were in effect for the general area in which the flight was taking place.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PDX Portland OR at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 2V2 Longmont CO
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
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.