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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 29, 1991 · Lake LA-250 · N1404X

Sisters, OR

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 29, 1991
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (3 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Location
Sisters, OR
Aircraft
Lake LA-250
Tail Number
N1404X
Operator
Stuart W Moore
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA91FA255

WITNESSES RPRTD THE PLTS HAD DIFFICULTY LOCATING THE ARPT. AFTER LNDG, THEY ELECTED TO TAKEOFF ON RWY 2, TOWARD TREES & RISING TRRN. ABT 17 MI EAST AT REDMAN, OR, THE 1215 WX WAS, IN PART: SKY CLEAR, VIS 10 MI, WIND FM 030 DEG AT 4 KTS. AT SISTERS, OR, THE DENSITY ALT WAS ABT 5500 FT. WITNESSES NOTED THAT DRG TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS TAXIED ONTO THE APCH END OF THE RWY, THEN TAXIED DOWN THE RWY ABT 100 FT BEFORE STARTING A ROLLING TAKEOFF. THERE WERE INDCNS THAT THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLR A RIDGE BEYOND THE DEP END OF THE RWY. THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP LEFT TURN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT STRUCK TREES ABT 50 FT AGL & CRASHED. WITNESSES RPRTD THE ENG WAS RUNNING AT HI POWER UNTIL IMPACT. ALSO, WITNESSES RPRTD THAT PILOTS, WHO WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT, FAVORED RWY 20 DRG CALM OR LIGHT WINDS.

NTSB Probable Cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT(S), AND FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REMAIN CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT(S) FAILURE TO USE ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, RISING TERRAIN AND TREES BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES RPRTD THE PLTS HAD DIFFICULTY LOCATING THE ARPT. AFTER LNDG, THEY ELECTED TO TAKEOFF ON RWY 2, TOWARD TREES & RISING TRRN. ABT 17 MI EAST AT REDMAN, OR, THE 1215 WX WAS, IN PART: SKY CLEAR, VIS 10 MI, WIND FM 030 DEG AT 4 KTS. AT SISTERS, OR, THE DENSITY ALT WAS ABT 5500 FT. WITNESSES NOTED THAT DRG TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS TAXIED ONTO THE APCH END OF THE RWY, THEN TAXIED DOWN THE RWY ABT 100 FT BEFORE STARTING A ROLLING TAKEOFF. THERE WERE INDCNS THAT THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLR A RIDGE BEYOND THE DEP END OF THE RWY. THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP LEFT TURN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT STRUCK TREES ABT 50 FT AGL & CRASHED. WITNESSES RPRTD THE ENG WAS RUNNING AT HI POWER UNTIL IMPACT. ALSO, WITNESSES RPRTD THAT PILOTS, WHO WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT, FAVORED RWY 20 DRG CALM OR LIGHT WINDS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:26 PDT
Nearest AirportSisters Eagle Air (1nm N)
Runway2
Runway Length3550 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLake LA-250
Tail NumberN1404X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorStuart W Moore
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-C4B5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (3 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Fatal3
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 48 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind30° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data