Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Bend, Oregon, June 28, 1987
On June 28, 1987 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N8713E, was destroyed in an accident near Bend, Oregon (Sunriver airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- June 28, 1987 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Bend, Oregon · Sunriver · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N8713E · no longer on the register · serial 32R7680161
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AND THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED. THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO RETRACT THE GEAR DUE TO THE LOW AIRSPEED BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEM WAS NOT IN THE OVERRIDE POSITION. NORMAL OPERATIONS DO NOT UTILIZE THE GEAR OVERRIDE. THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND DESCENDED ONTO A BOAT DOCK AND THE GROUND. IT WAS FOUND THAT FOUR OUT OF THE SIX TOP SPARK PLUGS WERE NOT FIRING. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT COMPUTES TO ABOUT 6,200 FEET.
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: 741 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 671 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,521 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 22, 1987; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S21 Sunriver OR at 4:35 pm
- Destination: YYF Penticton
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:31 pm from RDM, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 | 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.