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
Location: Galice, Oregon
Accident Number: WPR22LA193
Date and Time: May 31, 2022, 09:40 Local
Registration: N298DM
Aircraft: Vans RV-8
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On May 31, 2022, at 0940 Pacific daylight time, a Vans RV-8, N298DM, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Galice, Oregon. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot completed a 20-minute flight and landed in Grants Pass, Oregon with the intention of picking up his spouse. The airplane started normally and they departed from runway 31 about 0930. The pilot continued to the west until reaching the Rouge River where he maneuvered over the river at about 3,000 feet mean sea level (msl) with the engine operating at 2,200 RPM. After a few minutes, the pilot heard a “pop” emanating from the engine compartment followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot added full throttle, verified the mixture was full rich, cycled the magnetos, and switched the fuel selector position to the other tank. Despite the pilot’s troubleshooting attempts, the engine did not restart.
The pilot looked for a location to perform an emergency landing and noted that the airplane was too high to align with the gravel bars in the immediate vicinity. With no suitable terrain ahead, he opted to ditch in the river adjacent to the shoreline. The airplane touched down in a calm current near some exposed rocks. The airplane settled on rocks and they sat on the canopy for about 15 minutes. A team of swift-water rescue divers arrived at a boat ramp across the river with the intention of performing a training exercise that morning. The team carried the pilot and passenger to shore without injury.
During the accident sequence, the left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot estimated that there was about 30 gallons of fuel onboard the airplane at the time of the accident.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Vans
Registration: N298DM
Model/Series: RV-8
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSXT,3841 ft msl
Observation Time: 09:46 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 19.4°C /10°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.94 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Grants Pass, OR (3S8)
Destination: Galice, OR
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 42.562716,-123.57497 (est)
Aircraft experienced engine issues and crashed into river.
Date: 31-MAY-22
Time: 16:28:00Z
Regis#: N298DM
Aircraft Make: VANS
Aircraft Model: RV8
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
City: GRANTS PASS
State: OREGON
The FAA ought to outlaw rivers.
ReplyDelete… as well as power lines.
Delete"… as well as power lines."
DeleteWell if this idiotic administration and its handlers we are in the middle of has another four years, that probably will happen. We're supposed to magic carpet ride our way into the "green" future with back yard wind mills and solar panels powering our homes according to those children.