Piper PA-22 accident near La Grande, Oregon, November 15, 1995
On November 15, 1995 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N932A, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Grande, Oregon (La Grande airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT IN ATTEMPTING FLIGHT IN THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 1995 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- La Grande, Oregon · La Grande · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N932A · no longer on the register · serial 22-236
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE POSITIONED THE AIRPLANE IN THE RUN-UP AREA WITH THE NOSE INTO THE WIND. WHILE PERFORMING THE RUN-UP, A SWIRLING GUST OF WIND CONTACTED THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO TRY TO KEEP THE TAIL DOWN, BUT THE TAIL CONTINUED TO RISE AND THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVATION/REPORTING SYSTEM ON THE AIRPORT WAS REPORTING THE WIND FROM 190 DEGREES AT 29 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 40 KNOTS.
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: 1,154 hours in all; 611 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: S87 Weiser ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 29 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from LGD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.