Piper PA-22 accident near Aurora, Oregon, July 7, 1998
On July 7, 1998 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N2646A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aurora, Oregon. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Directional control was not maintained by the pilot in command. Factors include rough terrain and hidden obstructions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1998 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N2646A · no longer on the register · serial 22-916
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two pilots aboard the airplane intended to takeoff to the north from a rough, turf runway. The flight was to have been conducted under the provisions of a ferry permit, as the airplane was out of annual inspection. The private pilot in the left seat, who had just purchased the airplane, stated that 'we started the plane up and went down to the end of the runway and made a U-turn and started our takeoff. As we powered up (with) the plane heading down the runway we gradually went just a few feet to the right where the tall bushes were at. The grass strip is only about 30 feet wide with little room for error. The plane was bouncing from the pot holes and we clipped the right wingtip making it very difficult to bring (it) back to the left. It all happened very fast and before we could correct it the right gear leg found a ditch that was covered by the brush and over we went.' The flight instructor, in the right seat, stated that 'We made our runup, checked the checklist, and started the takeoff. Halfway down the runway we were close to the right edge. The wing tip hooked the brush and pulled us in and flipped us upside down.' The former owner of the airplane, who also owned the airstrip, stated that when he arrived at the accident scene, he asked what had happened, and the pilots responded that each had thought the other pilot had control.
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; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,320 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 5,250 as pilot in command; 2,544 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,440 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 13, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: AWO Arlington WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 1,500 ft by 25 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:34 pm from AUO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.