Piper PA-28-180 and Maule M-4 mid-air collision near The Dalles, Oregon, September 1, 1984
On September 1, 1984 at about 4:40 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-180 (N6499J) and Maule M-4 (N4622T), were involved in a mid-air collision near The Dalles, Oregon. 6 people were killed. 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
- September 1, 1984 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- The Dalles, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6499J · no longer on the register · serial 284932
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Maule M-4 · all M-4s on the register
- Registration
- N4622T · no longer on the register · serial 90
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N6499J DEPARTED THE DALLES MUNICIPAL ARPT SHORTLY AFTER 0930 PDT ON A FLT TO VANCOUVER, WA. N4622T DEPARTED CHENOWETH AIRFIELD ( APRX 4 NM WEST OF THE DALLES) AT ABOUT 0930 PDT ON A FLT TO THE DALLES MUNICIPAL ARPT. A WITNESS WHO OBSERVED BOTH ACFT BEFORE THE COLLISION STATED THAT N6499J WAS IN A WINGS LEVEL CLIMBING ATTITUDE PROCEEDING NORTHWEST AND N4622T WAS IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE AT A RELATIVELY CONSTANT ALTITUDE TRAVELING EASTWARD. THE WITNESS CONTINUED TO STATE THAT N4622T WAS ABOVE OR ON TOP OF N6499J WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. BOTH ACFT THEN DESCENDED STEEPLY TO GROUND IMPACT AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE. THE COLLISION OCCURRED APRX 3 NM NORTHWEST OF THE DALLES, OR.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Maule M-4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N6499J DEPARTED THE DALLES MUNICIPAL ARPT SHORTLY AFTER 0930 PDT ON A FLT TO VANCOUVER, WA. N4622T DEPARTED CHENOWETH AIRFIELD ( APRX 4 NM WEST OF THE DALLES) AT ABOUT 0930 PDT ON A FLT TO THE DALLES MUNICIPAL ARPT. A WITNESS WHO OBSERVED BOTH ACFT BEFORE THE COLLISION STATED THAT N6499J WAS IN A WINGS LEVEL CLIMBING ATTITUDE PROCEEDING NORTHWEST AND N4622T WAS IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE AT A RELATIVELY CONSTANT ALTITUDE TRAVELING EASTWARD. THE WITNESS CONTINUED TO STATE THAT N4622T WAS ABOVE OR ON TOP OF N6499J WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. BOTH ACFT THEN DESCENDED STEEPLY TO GROUND IMPACT AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE. THE COLLISION OCCURRED APRX 3 NM NORTHWEST OF THE DALLES, OR.
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 for the Piper PA-28-180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Flight time: 320 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DLS The Dalles OR at 4:35 pm
- Destination: 59S Vancouver WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:47 pm from DLS, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
The factual record for the Maule M-4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 550 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,742 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1984; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 60R2 Chenoweth OR at 4:35 pm
- Destination: DLS The Dalles OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.