Amateur-built CHALLENGER II accident near Scappoose, Oregon, September 8, 1995
On September 8, 1995 at about 6:38 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II, registered N838TG, was destroyed in an accident near Scappoose, 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 adequate airspeed, while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall/spin. Although the aircraft recovery parachute had been activated, there was not enough time (or altitude) for it to fully deploy.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1995 · about 6:38 pm local time
- Place
- Scappoose, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N838TG · no longer on the register · serial CH20492B0838
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the homebuilt aircraft depart from runway 15, and then they heard the pilot announce his intentions to return to land on runway 33 with no suggestion of any difficulty. The aircraft was observed to roll off from a turn into a spin and descend to the ground. An on-site examination revealed no evidence of flight control or powerplant malfunction. Investigation revealed the aircraft's weight equaled or exceeded its maximum gross takeoff weight limit. The aircraft was equipped with a recovery parachute system. The parachute system had been activated, but it had not fully deployed before ground impact.
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: 120 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 2703-2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1S4 at 6:35 pm
- Destination: Vancouver WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from PDX, 15 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.