Piper PA-28-140 accident near Lakeview, Oregon, April 28, 2025
On April 28, 2025 at about 8:15 pm local time, a 1965 Piper PA-28-140, registered N4505R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lakeview, Oregon (Lake County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 2025 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeview, Oregon · Lake County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140, built 1965 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N4505R · registry record · serial 28-21205
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, upon arrival at the airport, they observed the windsock indicating the wind was from the north at 15 knots. He performed a no-flap, straight in approach to runway 35, and the airplane touched down just before the 1,000 ft runway marker. After touchdown the airplane veered to the right of the runway, and he attempted to correct back to the runway with brake and left rudder inputs. As the airplane continued off runway heading, the pilot initiated a go-around and was about 5 to 10 ft above ground level when the stall warning horn annunciated. The pilot reduced back pressure, and the airplane touched back down on the runway. The pilot stated that he had insufficient braking after touchdown and the airplane exited the runway surface and struck an agricultural ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 541 hours in all; 415 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 479 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 15, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,244.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 2024; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 2,300 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,318 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KAAT, 41 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KAAT 281955Z AUTO 24006KT 10SM CLR 13/04 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP223 T01330039 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Right Side View of Airplane
Photograph 2 – Left Side View of Airplane
Photograph 3 – Rear View of AirplaneThe 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 3, 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 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.