Piper PA-28-181 accident near The Dalles, Oregon, February 22, 2005
On February 22, 2005 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N181WC, was substantially damaged in an accident near The Dalles, Oregon (Columbia Gorge Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's improper compensation for the wind condition and the improper rejected landing procedure, which resulted in the collision with terrain. A contributing factor to the accident was the crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 2005 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- The Dalles, Oregon · Columbia Gorge Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N181WC · registry record · serial 28-8190124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On final approach the student pilot became nervous thinking about landing with a crosswind, as she had no previous training in crosswind landings. With the wind pushing the airplane to the left the pilot initiated a go-around, but became confused and could not remember if the nose should be pitched up or down. The airplane initially pitched down, resulting in the left wing impacting the ground and cartwheeling. The aircraft came to rest in an upright position with the left wing separated into three pieces.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 50 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 4, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,547 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLS The Dalles OR at 10:45 pm
- Destination: DLS The Dalles OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 070, 4,647 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from DLS
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.