Piper PA-22 accident near Butte Falls, Oregon, August 11, 1994
On August 11, 1994 at about 2:45 am local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N3555A, was destroyed in an accident near Butte Falls, Oregon. 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-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM TREES WHILE MANEUVERING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1994 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Butte Falls, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N3555A · registry record · serial 22-1829
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GROUND WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE CIRCLING AT A LOW ALTITUDE OVER HIS PROPERTY. THE AIRPLANE THEN STRUCK A 100-FOOT TALL FIR TREE AND IMPACTED TERRAIN. BRANCHES FROM THE TREE WERE CUT BY THE PROPELLER AND FOUND ALONG THE WRECKAGE PATH. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES WAS FOUND. THE GROUND WITNESS WAS AN ACQUAINTANCE OF THE PILOT AND STATED THAT THE PILOT HAD FLOWN OVER HIS PROPERTY ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE LESS THAN THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO 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: 80 hours in all; 80 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,557 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 1993; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 64S Prospect OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from MFR, 18 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.