Amateur-built Challenger II STD accident near La Grande, Oregon, March 26, 2005
On March 26, 2005 at about 10:25 pm local time, a amateur-built Challenger II STD, registered N4018G, was destroyed in an accident near La Grande, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's VFR flight into IMC and his failure to maintain clearance with terrain during cruise flight. Factors were the existing weather conditions that included low ceilings, snow, obscuration, and the mountainous, rising terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2005 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- La Grande, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Challenger II STD
- Registration
- N4018G · registry record · serial CH2-0102-2184
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two seat experimental amateur-built airplane was destroyed when it impacted rough, sloping mountainous terrain heading north, coming to rest on a southerly heading just west of an interstate highway. A witness, who was driving north on the interstate, observed the airplane over the freeway, but lost sight of it in the snow and clouds as it proceeded west. A couple of minutes later the witness observed the airplane coming from the west and appeared to be trying to climb as it was being bounced around, then going out of sight due to the poor visibility. The witness subsequently came upon the wreckage a few minutes later, spotting what appeared to be a wing on the hillside just to the west of the freeway. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were found during examination of the wreckage. A National Weather Service area forecast issued earlier in the day revealed that a strong and moist Pacific system was moving into the Pacific Northwest. Wind advisories were also to be issued that afternoon.
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: 76 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
Other crew
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 220 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2005; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EUL Caldwell ID at 8:20 pm
- Destination: ALW Walla Walla WA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 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.