Piper PA-22-150 accident near Elgin, Oregon, July 3, 1989
On July 3, 1989 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N6941B, was destroyed in an accident near Elgin, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF/INITIAL CLIMB, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: QUARTERING TAILWIND, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1989 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Elgin, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N6941B · no longer on the register · serial 22-4221
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A SOUTHERLY TAKEOFF FROM HIS SHORT/UNEVEN GRASS AIRSTRIP IN HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT WITH 3 OCCUPANTS ABOARD. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, IT STALLED AT LOW ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE & BURNED. ABOUT 23 MI SOUTH AT LA GRANDE, OR, THE WIND WAS CALM; WITNESSES AT THE ACCIDENT SITE INDICATED THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 5 TO 10 KTS. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 4100 FT. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN 2:15 HOURS IN THE PREVIOUS 9 MONTHS.
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: 195 hours in all; 193 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 148 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,752 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1987; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 1,300 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:00 am from LGD, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.