Piper PA-24-250 accident near Sutherlin, Oregon, January 23, 1998
On January 23, 1998 at about 9:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N8422P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sutherlin, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 1998 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Sutherlin, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N8422P · registry record · serial 24-3672
- 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 while in cruise flight, the airframe began to pick up light rime ice. The pilot elected to return to his departure point and was cleared to descend to a lower altitude. After the flight descended to the lower altitude, the engine was unable to maintain full power and began to run rough. The aircraft was unable to maintain altitude to reach the airport and the pilot elected to land the airplane on an open field. During the gear up landing to the soft field, the airplane collided with a berm and barb wire fence. After the aircraft was recovered, it was determined that the engine was in a condition to be test run. A new propeller was installed, a battery was connected, and a fuel supply was rigged. The engine was started and ran normally at idle power until the engine was warmed up. The engine was then run to 1700 RPM and a magneto check was accomplished. The oil temperature, oil pressure, EGT, and suction were all within normal parameters. The inlet air box was severely damaged during the accident sequence. The alternate air door would operate only part way open, however, the hinge was clear and free. The air filter was a foam filter that was in good condition, with no sign of deterioration or blockage.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,050 hours in all; 222 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 3,708 as pilot in command; 1,658 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,513 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 1997; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EUG Eugene OR at 8:15 pm
- Destination: MHR Sacramento CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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 N8422P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA98LA028.