Cantrell Lw CHALLENGER II SP accident near Prineville, OR
On September 8, 2013, a Cantrell Lw CHALLENGER II SP (airplane) was involved in an accident near Prineville, OR. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 8, 2013
- Place
- Prineville, OR
- Aircraft
- Cantrell Lw CHALLENGER II SP · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 44.290°N, 120.888°W
- NTSB ID
- 20130908X63200
Official records · WPR13FA400
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 8, 2013, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Cantrell LW Challenger II SP airplane, N65VG, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near the Prineville Airport (S39), near Prineville, Oregon. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The sport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight, which originated from S39 about 1100. Witnesses located adjacent to the accident site reported observing the accident airplane fly near their location at a low altitude. The witnesses stated that the airplane oscillated upward and downward three times and the tail flight control surfaces appeared to be moving erratically before the airplane descended nose down into terrain. One witness near the accident site reported that he thought the engine had lost power prior to losing sight of the airplane. Another witness, who was located adjacent to the accident site, reported that the propeller appeared to be operating as it flew over his position, however, the engine didn't sound normal. Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane came to rest on its left side. The wing structure was separated and found just forward of the main wreckage. All major structural components of the airplane were located within about 20 feet of the main wreckage. The wreckage was tr
Probable cause
The in-flight failure of the left elevator control torque tube. Contributing to the accident was the improper assembly of the elevator control torque tubes.
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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.
