Hoover Challenger II STD accident near La Grande, OR
On March 26, 2005, a Hoover Challenger II STD (airplane) was involved in an accident near La Grande, OR. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 26, 2005
- Place
- La Grande, OR
- Aircraft
- Hoover Challenger II STD · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 45.225°N, 118.035°W
- NTSB ID
- 20050404X00398
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 26, 2005, approximately 1425 Pacific standard time, a Hoover Challenger II single-engine airplane, N4018G, was destroyed after colliding with terrain while maneuvering about 7 nautical miles south-southeast of La Grande, Oregon. The certificated private pilot and the pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91 regulations. The flight departed the Caldwell Industrial Airport (EUL), Caldwell, Idaho, about 1320 mountain standard time, and its destination was Walla Walla, Washington. In a written report provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) by a local law enforcement agency, a witness reported that he observed the accident airplane around milepost 274 on interstate highway I84 while traveling westbound, and at the time the wind was blowing hard and it was snowing. The witness stated that he saw the airplane come from the northeast when it was directly above the freeway, then it started following the freeway westbound. The witness further stated that he lost sight of the airplane in the snow and clouds, and then a couple of minutes later he observed the airplane coming from the west, headed east across the freeway, "...and it appeared the plane was trying to climb. The airplane was being bounced around and the wings were tipping at least 10 degrees. It looked like the plane was in trouble." The witness stated that he then lost sight of the airplane because of the poor visibility, and a couple o
Probable cause
The pilot's VFR flight into IMC and his failure to maintain clearance with terrain during cruise flight. Factors were the existing weather conditions that included low ceilings, snow, obscuration, and the mountainous, rising terrain.
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Browse: Oregon
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
