Piper PA-25-235D accident near Heppner, Oregon, April 22, 1984
On April 22, 1984 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235D, registered N9866P, was destroyed in an accident near Heppner, Oregon. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- April 22, 1984 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Heppner, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235D · all PA-25-235Ds on the register
- Registration
- N9866P · no longer on the register · serial 15-7556190
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS MAKING A TURN BELOW THE LEE SIDE OF A RIDGE LINE AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 30 FT AGL. THE ACFT REPORTEDLY ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT & SETTLED INTO THE GROUND. DURING THIS OCCURRENCE, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, BUT NO OTHER MAJOR DAMAGE WAS INCURRED. SHORTLY AFTER COMING TO REST, THE ACFT BEGAN BURNING & WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 892 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 785 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,467 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-G1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Heppner OR at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.