Piper PA 30 accident near Eagle Creek, Oregon, March 19, 2020
On March 19, 2020, a 1963 Piper PA 30, registered N7155Y, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Eagle Creek, Oregon (Eagle Nest Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of airplane control during takeoff due to his left shoe’s interference with the rudder pedal.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2020
- Place
- Eagle Creek, Oregon · Eagle Nest Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 30 No Series, built 1963 · all PA 30s on the register
- Registration
- N7155Y · registry record · serial 30-1733725
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he positioned the airplane just left of the centerline and held the brakes for a short-field takeoff. After adding full power, he released the brakes and directed the airplane toward the center of the runway. Once the airplane was centered, he attempted to realign the nose of the airplane with the runway; however, the airplane kept turning left. At the same time, the airplane reached 80 knots and lifted off the runway. The pilot attempted to add right rudder, but it did not move because his left shoe was stuck between the rudder pedals. The airplane continued to turn left, so he reduced power on the right engine in attempt to straighten the airplane. He freed his foot from the rudder pedal, but the airplane was headed directly toward a large tree along the left side of the runway. He pulled back on the yoke and attempted to climb, but the airplane struck several trees and a postimpact fire ensued. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 245 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 12,500 as pilot in command; 2,100 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 25, 2018
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,052 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2019; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,725 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 3,052 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 160 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OR65 Eagle Creek OR
- Destination: OR65 Eagle Creek OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,500 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from TTD, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on March 15, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Converstation - Federal Aviation Administration Regarding on Scene | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | On Scene Photos - Courtesy of Local Law Enforcement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Video of Accident (1) | video | View Download |
| 6 | Video of Accident (2) | video | View Download |
| 7 | Video of Accident (3) | video | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.