Interstate S-1A accident near Independence, Oregon, October 2, 2021
On October 2, 2021 at about 3:10 pm local time, a 1941 Interstate S-1A, registered N37317, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Independence, Oregon (Independence State 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 separation of the left rudder pedal interconnect cable during takeoff, which resulted in the student pilot’s inability to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 2021 · about 3:10 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Independence, Oregon · Independence State · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Interstate S-1A, built 1941 · all S-1As on the register
- Registration
- N37317 · registry record · serial 160
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot reported that, he was unable to maintain directional control of the tailwheel equipped airplane during the takeoff roll when he depressed the left rudder pedal. He aborted the takeoff and the airplane veered to the right, exited the right side of the runway, and impacted multiple airport signs, substantially damaging the right wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the owner revealed that, the control cable that interconnects the forward and aft seat left rudder pedals had failed. The owner further stated that it appeared the control cable had pulled through the nicopress swage and that the crimp marks were still visible on the swage. A review of the airplane maintenance records revealed that, the airplane amassed about 1,483.4 hours since the control cables were replaced about 21 years before the accident.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder control system › Failure other cases naming the flight controls
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 83.5 hours in all; 42.6 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,770.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 2021
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors A65 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jeannes Flying Service LLC
The flight
- Destination: Malino OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,002 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 200 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 am from KSLE, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSLE 021456Z 00000KT 6SM R31/1600VP6000FT BR FEW002 06/05 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP234 T00610050 51004
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Photo of the damage to the airplane.
Photo 2 – View of the left rudder cable thimble.
Photo 3 - View of the control cable and nicopress swage.
Photo 4 - View of the control cable and nicopress swage.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on February 10, 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, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Owner | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Aircraft Logbook Entries | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Memorandum for Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N37317 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Interstate S-1 104 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Interstate 107 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental Motors A65 33 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Independence State Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Oregon 1,864 since 1982 · 279 in the last ten years
- Oregon 7,008 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR22LA003.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.