Nelson RV 3M accident near North Plains, Oregon, August 10, 2014
On August 10, 2014 at about 7:20 pm local time, a 1991 Nelson RV 3M, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N43AZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near North Plains, Oregon (North Plains Gliderport 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
A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons which resulted in a landing gear collapse during the precautionary landing to a field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2014 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- North Plains, Oregon · North Plains Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nelson RV 3M, built 1991, amateur-built
- Registration
- N43AZ · registry record · serial 11107
- 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, after a thorough preflight inspection, he taxied the airplane to the run-up area with the right fuel tank selected. He then switched to the left fuel tank for the run-up, and all indications were normal. He then switched back to the right fuel tank and took off for the personal cross-country flight. When the airplane reached about 200 ft above ground level, he made a left turn. Subsequently, the engine power reduced to about 1,000 rpm. The pilot chose to initiate a precautionary landing to a field during which the landing gear folded up beneath and into the bottom of the wings that resulted in substantial damaged to both wings and the fuselage. Subsequently the airplane slid about 100 yards before coming to rest. Although only about 1 inch of fuel was found in the left-wing fuel tank, and no fuel was found in the right-wing fuel tank, there was evidence that fuel had drained out of the airplane; thus, fuel exhaustion was unlikely. Based on the available information, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.
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 engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 339 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 273 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 10, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,118 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 2014; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 E2D (piston); 4,272 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1OR4 North Plains OR at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 5S9 Estacada OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 2,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from HIO, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.