Amateur-built ALLEGRO accident near Cresent Lake, Oregon, September 18, 1998
On September 18, 1998 at about 5:45 pm local time, a amateur-built ALLEGRO, registered OKDUU, was destroyed in an accident near Cresent Lake, Oregon (Cresent Lake State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees located off the departure end of the runway. Factors include strong, variable, gusty winds, terrain-induced turbulence, a high density altitude, and trees off the departure end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1998 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cresent Lake, Oregon · Cresent Lake State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ALLEGRO
- Registration
- OKDUU · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the unregistered homebuilt aircraft was departing in strong, gusty winds that were reported to be constantly changing direction. After lifting off about halfway down the 3,800 feet runway, the aircraft appeared to remain less than 20 feet above the ground as it continued to accelerate toward the departure end. As it neared the trees off the departure end of the runway, it appeared that the aircraft started to climb. But, its right wing clipped a tree as the pilot attempted to maneuver into an open corridor formed by a nearby railroad track. At the time of the accident, the density altitude was about 5,300 feet, and a pilot that had just departed said that the air was very bumpy just above treetop level. No evidence of anomalies or malfunction were found in the airframe or engine.
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: 60 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,058 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Verner SVS-1400 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 5S2 at 5:45 pm
- Destination: Alvord Desert OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,800 ft by 125 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.