Piper PA28 accident near Oregon City, Oregon, September 30, 2020
On September 30, 2020 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1970 Piper PA28, registered N5397S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Oregon City, Oregon (Fairways 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
The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a bounced landing, loss of directional control and subsequent collision with a hangar.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2020 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oregon City, Oregon · Fairways · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140, built 1970 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N5397S · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125108
- 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, he entered the traffic pattern for runway 16 and noted the airspeed was a little fast on the final approach leg. The airplane touched down on the runway’s grass surface and bounced resulting in it floating before touching down again. The pilot attempted to aggressively brake and increase backpressure on the control yoke. The airplane veered to the right and despite his attempts, he could not regain directional control. The airplane collided with a hangar substantially damaging both wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Airport structure › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 49 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,548 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 2020; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 2,206 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4S9 Mulino OR at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,900 ft by 160 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KUAO, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KUAO 301753Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 20/12 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP219 T02000117 10200 20111 51010
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2021. 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, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photographs (Provided by Pilot) | PDF, 2 pages | 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.