Accident Sequence
An aircraft was flying near the Eugene Airport at an altitude of 400 to 500 feet above ground level (AGL), heading toward the Blue River area. Approximately seven minutes before the accident, the aircraft was observed flying over the Blue River Forest Ranger Station at an altitude of about 1,000 feet AGL as it turned up the North Quartz Creek drainage. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted the side of a box canyon in a steep nose-down attitude, approximately 1,000 feet below the ridge line.
Witness Observations
Several witnesses reported seeing the aircraft at various points during its flight. Initial sightings placed the aircraft near the Eugene Airport at a low altitude of 400 to 500 feet AGL, with the aircraft heading toward the Blue River. Later, witnesses at the Blue River Forest Ranger Station observed the aircraft at about 1,000 feet AGL as it turned into the North Quartz Creek area. No further sightings were reported prior to the impact.
Aircraft Performance
The pilot operating handbook for the aircraft type lists the rate of climb under standard conditions as 680 feet per minute (fpm). This performance figure is provided for reference, though the specific conditions at the time of the accident are not detailed in the source.