Piper PA 16 accident near Scappoose, Oregon, February 22, 2014
On February 22, 2014 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 1949 Piper PA 16, registered N5626H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Scappoose, Oregon (Scappoose Industrial Airpark 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention and inadequate preflight inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 2014 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Scappoose, Oregon · Scappoose Industrial Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 16 NO SERIES, built 1949 · all PA 16s on the register
- Registration
- N5626H · registry record · serial 16-237
- 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 prior to the flight he removed an insulating blanket and heat source from the tailwheel equipped airplane, and conducted his preflight inspection. Following a normal engine run up, he initiated takeoff, where he thought the airplane seemed sluggish and that the rate of climb didn't feel normal. The pilot determined that the engine was not making full power, and decided to land at a nearby airport with a larger runway. Following an uneventful landing, the pilot diverted his attention to the engine instruments. Subsequently, the airplane swerved to the right, and the right main landing gear folded underneath the fuselage, which resulted in the right wing striking the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the right wing spar was bent. The pilot added that he found an insulating cover over the carburetor air intake and that was the reason for the reduced power.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,046 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 6,763 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 10, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,041 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 2013; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Battle Ground WA at 6:45 pm
- Destination: SPB Scappoose OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KSPB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 WPR14CA120.