Piper PA-28-151 accident near Bridal Veil, Oregon, September 30, 1989
On September 30, 1989 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered CGIWO, was destroyed in an accident near Bridal Veil, Oregon (Portland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, AND POSSIBLE SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1989 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bridal Veil, Oregon · Portland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- CGIWO · no longer on the register · serial 28-7415372
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT (RECENTLY CERTIFIED IN CANADA AS A PVT PLT) RCVD A WX BRIEFING FM A FSS & FILED A VFR FLT PLAN TO PORTLAND, OR. HE WAS BRIEFED ON MOD TURBC, LGT TO MOD ICING, MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS & MARGINAL VFR TO IFR CEILINGS AT THE DESTINATION. ALSO, HE WAS ADVISED THAT VFR WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. WHEN THE FLT WAS ABOUT 20 MI EAST OF PORTLAND ARPT, THE PILOT CONTACTED ATC & WAS ADVISED TO MAINTAIN VFR AT 2000 FT FOR LNDG STRAIGHT-IN AT PORTLAND. ABOUT 2 MIN LATER, HE RPRTD HE WAS DSCNDG TO 1200 FT TO REMAIN VFR. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE ENCOUNTERED WX & INITIATED A CLIMB IN IMC. HOWEVER, DURING THE CLIMB, THE ACFT STALLED, THEN DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL IMPACT WITH TREES AT 1200 FT MSL. ABOUT 9 MI WEST AT THE TROUTDALE ARPT (ELEV 36 FT), THE 1518 PDT WX WAS IN PART: 1200 FT OVC, 3 MI VIS WITH MOD RAIN, WIND FROM 230 DEG AT 6 KTS.
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: 86 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,488 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 6, 1989; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skyway Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 5:11 pm
- Destination: PDX Portland OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:18 pm from 77D, 9 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.