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Casualties unknown

Night Cross-Country Flight Ends in Terrain Collision (N2947R)

Prairie City, OR, US

On March 2, 1990, a Piper PA28R-200 (registration N2947R) was involved in an aviation accident near Prairie City, OR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: UNCONTROLLED SPIRALLING DESCENT THAT THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY RECOVER FROM. THE PILOTS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION AND THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION ARE A FACTOR. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-19Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft climbing during a night cross-country flight entered an uncommanded left descending turn, resulting in a collision with terrain under marginal weather conditions.

What happened

The accident occurred during a night cross-country flight. The airplane was initially observed to be climbing when it suddenly entered a left descending turn. This maneuver continued until the aircraft collided with the terrain along its flight path.

The investigation

A thorough on-scene investigation was conducted to determine the condition of the aircraft following the impact. Inspectors examined the airframe and systems for any signs of pre-impact issues. There were no noted mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane found during this examination.

Findings

The weather conditions along the flight course presented significant challenges. Forecasts indicated that mountains were occasionally obscured by clouds, creating potential visual reference difficulties. Additionally, the freezing level was low, which can contribute to ice accumulation on airframe surfaces even if not explicitly confirmed as a factor in this specific instance.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2 Mar 1990 Piper PA28R-200 accident near Prairie City, OR?

An aircraft climbing during a night cross-country flight entered an uncommanded left descending turn, resulting in a collision with terrain under marginal weather conditions.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2 Mar 1990 involved a Piper PA28R-200, registration N2947R, at Prairie City, OR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

UNCONTROLLED SPIRALLING DESCENT THAT THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY RECOVER FROM. THE PILOTS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION AND THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION ARE A FACTOR.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X22813. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.