Piper PA-28-160 accident near Sisters, Oregon, July 27, 1992
On July 27, 1992 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5639W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sisters, Oregon (Sisters airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PIC DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE UNFAVORABLE WIND (WINDSHIFT) ENCOUNTERED DURING TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL, THE TAILWIND AND HIGH DA WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1992 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 1992
- Place
- Sisters, Oregon · Sisters · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5639W · no longer on the register · serial 28-787
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHIFT DURING TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. HE LOCKED THE BRAKES, AND THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED OFF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED PARKED AIRCRAFT ON THE RAMP. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 5928 FT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 289 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 235 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,815 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 25, 1991; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: RDM Redmond OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 3,550 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5639W: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,635 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,844 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A 72 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Sisters Eagle Air Airport · nearest airport
- Roberts Fld/Redmond Municipal · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Oregon 1,862 since 1982 · 277 in the last ten years
- Oregon 7,013 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA92LA166.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.