Piper PA-22-150 accident near Sunriver, Oregon, July 6, 2024
On July 6, 2024 at about 8:35 pm local time, a 1957 Piper PA-22-150, registered N6931D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Sunriver, Oregon (Sunriver 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 loss of control during landing roll with a gusty tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2024 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Sunriver, Oregon · Sunriver · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150, built 1957 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N6931D · registry record · serial 22-4859
- 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 landing, he obtained the current weather, which included the current wind. After he performed a normal crosswind landing, during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a gust of wind from the right, and the right wing began to rise. The pilot attempted to correct the movement with full aileron and rudder control inputs; however, the wing continued to rise as the airplane slid to the left and weathervaned to the right. The left wing impacted the runway, and the left main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 18, with the wind from 240° at 8 knots, however, recorded video of the accident showed that at the time of the loss of control, a right quartering tailwind existed.
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
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,321 hours in all; 1,101 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 7,991 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 29, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,173 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 4,184 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGD La Grande OR at 6:23 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 5,460 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from KS21
Weather report (METAR): KS21 062035Z AUTO 28010G16KT 9SM CLR 34/M07 A3016 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of accident airplane from left wing; note damage outboard and to forward fuselage
Photo 2 – Left wing outboard leading edgeThe 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 12, 2025. 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 | Video of Accident | video | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | 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.