No fatalities

14 Jun 2009: PIPER PA-18-150 — Gary Lazenby — Hell's Canyon, OR

Hell's Canyon, OR, United States

On 14 Jun 2009, a PIPER PA-18-150 operated by Gary Lazenby was involved in an aviation accident near Hell's Canyon, OR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During final approach, a pilot turned to align with the runway and struck a small tree with the right wing, causing a yaw and subsequent ground impact that damaged the left wing and fuselage.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that while on final approach to the runway, a slight right turn was made to better align the airplane with the runway. As the airplane crossed the approach end of the runway, the right wing struck a small tree. This impact caused the airplane to yaw to the right. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground, resulting in structural damage to the left wing and the fuselage. The pilot noted that no mechanical anomalies were present with the engine or the flight control system prior to the accident.

Sequence of Events

According to the pilot's account, the approach was proceeding normally until the decision to adjust the heading. Upon crossing the runway threshold, the right wing made contact with a small tree. The tree strike induced a yaw to the right, leading to a loss of control and eventual ground impact. The impact forces caused damage to the left wing and the fuselage structure. The pilot stated that both the engine and flight controls were functioning normally before the accident.

Pilot Statement

The pilot reported no mechanical issues with the aircraft's engine or flight control system. The only reported anomaly was the tree strike, which occurred during the final approach phase.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Tree(s)