Piper PA-15 accident near Cottage Grove, Oregon, February 20, 1991
On February 20, 1991 at about 4:56 am local time, a Piper PA-15, registered N4518H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottage Grove, Oregon (Cottage Grove State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A DARK NIGHT CONDITION AND AN UNCONTROLLED STALL/SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 1991 · about 4:56 am local time
- Place
- Cottage Grove, Oregon · Cottage Grove State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-15 · all PA-15s on the register
- Registration
- N4518H · registry record · serial 15-292
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF FROM AN UNCONTROLLED STRIP DURING DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A VERTICAL, NOSE DOWN POSITION. DURING THE POST CRASH INSPECTION, THERE WERE NO NOTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE OR ENGINE.
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: 645 hours in all; 467 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 599 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,506 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 23, 1990; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-145-B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 77S Creswell OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 am from EUG, 21 miles away
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.