Piper PA-28-180 accident near Manzanita, Oregon, June 20, 1998
On June 20, 1998 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N6556J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manzanita, Oregon (Nehalem Bay State 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 failure to maintain directional control during the aborted takeoff. Factors include a crosswind gust during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1998 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Manzanita, Oregon · Nehalem Bay State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6556J · registry record · serial 28-5002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, the winds shifted to a point where the aircraft was encountering a direct crosswind of 10 to 20 knots. Upon encountering the crosswind, the aircraft drifted toward the edge of the runway, and the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. During the abort, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the aircraft departed the runway. After departing the runway, the aircraft crossed a 100 foot grass area and impacted a stand of trees.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 416 hours in all; 236 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 313 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,458 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 3, 1998; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3S7 at 11:10 pm
- Destination: 47T Troutdale OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,350 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.