Piper PA-22 accident near Klamath Falls, Oregon, April 2, 1995
On April 2, 1995 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N8276C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Klamath Falls, Oregon (Klamath Falls Int. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF, RESULTING IN A GROUND LOOP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1995 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Klamath Falls, Oregon · Klamath Falls Int. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8276C · no longer on the register · serial 22-2352
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT, DURING TAKEOFF IN A PIPER PA-22 WHICH HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO TAILWHEEL CONFIGURATION, HE WAS HOLDING THE YOKE ALL THE WAY BACK WHILE ADDING POWER. AS THE AIRPLANE'S SPEED INCREASED, THE PILOT MOVED THE YOKE FORWARD TO RAISE THE TAIL. BEFORE THE TAIL ROSE, THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT ON THE RUNWAY, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT TOLD AN FAA INSPECTOR THAT HE HAD APPLIED FULL RUDDER IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT THE GROUND LOOP.
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: 906 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 803 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,042 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1995; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: S50 Auburn WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 10,301 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from LMT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 N8276C 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.