Piper PA-28-140 accident near Newberg, Oregon, October 1, 1982
On October 1, 1982 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N15543, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newberg, Oregon (Chehalem airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 1982 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Newberg, Oregon · Chehalem · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N15543 · no longer on the register · serial 287325093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT MADE 3 LANDINGS ON A 2860 FT RUNWAY AT SPORTSMAN AIRPARK. HE THEN LANDED ON A 2300 FT TURF RUNWAY AT CHEHALEM AIRPORT IN LIGHT AND VARIABLE WIND CONDITIONS. WHILE LANDING AT CHEHALEM, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, CROSSED A DITCH AND ROAD AND CAME TO REST IN A SECOND DITCH. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS WAS QUESTIONABLE. HOWEVER, AN EXAMINATION OF THE RUNWAY REVEALED SCUF MARKS FROM THE PLANE'S MAIN WHEELS, BEGINNING ABOUT 150 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END. THE OWNER OF A BRAKE REPAIR FACILITY STATED THAT THE MARKS INDICATED TO HIM THAT BOTH BRAKES WERE ACTIVATED AND LOCKED. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR FAILED WHEN THE PLANE CROSSED THE FIRST DITCH. AT THAT LOCATION, A SPRAY PATTERN OF HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS FOUND WHICH WAS TYPICAL OF FLUID UNDER PRESSURE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKES REVEALED ONLY NORMAL WEAR.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 272 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 184 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,184 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 17S Newberg OR at 4:45 pm
- Destination: 17S Newberg OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 156°F (69°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from HIO, 14 miles away
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.