Kitfox Supersport, registered to and operated by the pilot, N925DP: Accident occurred March 20, 2018 in Clatskanie, Columbia County, Oregon

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Hillsboro, Oregon

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N925DP

Location: Clatskanie, OR
Accident Number: WPR18LA111
Date & Time: 03/20/2018, 1315 PDT
Registration: N925DP
Aircraft: PFLUGRADT Kitfox
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial)
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On March 20, 2018, about 1315 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Pflugradt Kitfox Super Sport airplane, N925DP, experienced a partial loss of engine power and collided with terrain near Clatskanie, Oregon. The airline transport pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Pacific City State Airport (PFC), Pacific City, Oregon at 1200 and was destined for Pearson Field Airport (VUO), Vancouver, Washington

The pilot reported that he departed from PFC and he followed the coast and Columbia river en route to VUO. About 800 ft above the Columbia river, he advanced the throttle to climb when the engine started to lose power. The pilot elected to land on a nearby treeless island in the river. The airplane landed uneventfully, and during the landing roll, the main wheels sunk into the ground and the airplane nosed over and came to rest on its back.

Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the throttle cable was loose at the throttle body attachment arm. When manipulated, the cable moved freely with no corresponding motion on the throttle body arm. The cable set screw on the aft side of the throttle body arm backed slightly out of its original position and was no longer securing the throttle cable.

Review of the maintenance logbooks revealed the the throttle body arm was built by the owner and was installed on the airplane on July 30, 2017, at 1,092.5 hours, which is about 204 hours prior to the accident. In addition, a vernier style throttle cable was installed on August 30, 2017 at 1,137 hours, about 159 hours prior to the accident.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Commercial
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Sport Pilot
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/08/2016
Flight Time:  11873 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1296 hours (Total, this make and model), 9901 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 74 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 23 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PFLUGRADT
Registration: N925DP
Model/Series: Kitfox Super Sport
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2014
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental Light Sport
Serial Number: KA13063258
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/10/2017, Continuous Airworthiness
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1320 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 42 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1296 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: 912ULS
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 100 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KLS, 20 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 20 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1256 PDT
Direction from Accident Site: 95°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: Variable
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.06 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 12°C / 3°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Pacific City, OR (PFC)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Vancouver, WA (VUO)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1200 PDT
Type of Airspace: Unknown 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 46.155000, 123.237500 (est)

On Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at approximately 1:30PM, the Oregon State Police responded to the report of a small plane that had crashed into the Columbia River near Clatskanie. Initial information indicated the plane was upside down in the water on a sandbar. 

The US Coast Guard along with an OSP boat, which was nearby responded to the scene. The USCG arrived prior to OSP’s arrival and had recovered the pilot and transported him to Pearson Airfield in Vancouver. The pilot was uninjured and identified as 67 year old Douglas Paul PFLUGRADT, from Mattawa, Washington. There were no passengers in the aircraft. The location of the crash was determined to be on Wallace Island.

PFLUGRADT indicated he was attempting to land on a sandbar of Wallace Island because he was experiencing mechanical issues. The aircraft PFLUGRADT was operating is identified as a Kit Fox Super Sport. During PFLUGRADT’s attempt to land, the aircraft flipped onto its top. Recovery efforts are underway to remove the aircraft prior to the rising tide. The investigation is continuing.

The Oregon State Police was assisted by the US Coast Guard, Washington State Patrol, Oregon Emergency Management, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Original article can be found here ➤  http://www.flashalert.net

PORTLAND, Ore. —   Oregon State Police say the pilot of a small plane wasn't injured when he tried to land atop a sandbar at Wallace Island Tuesday afternoon.

The crash was reported around 1:30 p.m. and the pilot, identified as 67-year-old Douglas P. Pflugradt from Mattawa, Wash., had reported having mechanical issues.

As he was attempting to land on the sandbar, the plane flipped to its top.

Pflugradt wasn't injured, but he was taken to Pearson Air Park by the US Coast Guard. Pflugradt was operating a Kit Fox Super Sport.

Oregon State Police initially told KATU News two people were rescued from the plane, but later walked back that statement, adding someone had jumped from the Lewis and Clark Bridge around the same time.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://kval.com

Two people were sent to the hospital Tuesday afternoon after a plane crashed near Wallace Island on the Columbia River near Clatskanie.

Oregon State Police were dispatched to the scene at 1:36 p.m. March 20 after a 911 caller reported seeing a plane upside down in the river. Members of the Coast Guard were also sent to the crash.

Oregon State Police Sgt. Kaipo Raiser said two people were recovered and transported to a Vancouver hospital.

"There is no information about who they are or what their condition is at this point," Raiser said.

The plane had not been removed as of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, he added.

Wallace Island is a three-mile island situated just outside of Clatskanie in the Columbia River.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://pamplinmedia.com