Amateur-built TALON XP accident near Estacada, Oregon, November 14, 1993
On November 14, 1993, a amateur-built TALON XP (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Estacada, 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEARANCE FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TERRAIN CONDITION AND FLIGHT INTO AN AREA WITH ADVERSE WEATHER AND UNFAVORABLE WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 1993
- Place
- Estacada, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TALON XP
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER HAVING BEEN MISSING FOR 23 MONTHS, AN UNREGISTERED HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE, OCCUPIED BY A NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT AND A PASSENGER, WAS FOUND BY HUNTERS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE TERRAIN WAS COVERED WITH TREES IN EXCESS OF TWO HUNDRED FEET IN HEIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND NOSE DOWN AND INVERTED ON STEEP TERRAIN. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT A STORM FRONT HAD MOVED THROUGH THE AREA. THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT HAD BEEN CHECKED OUT IN THE AIRPLANE UNDER PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR 103, ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. A SECOND SEAT HAD BEEN TEMPORARILY INSTALLED IN THE AIRPLANE FOR THE PILOT'S CHECKOUT; THE SECOND SEAT WAS TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED AFTER THE CHECKOUT, SO THE AIRPLANE COULD BE OPERATED AS AN ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE. THE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 17 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME 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
- Flight time: 17 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 03S Sandy OR at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 0S2 Oregon City OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.