2012 Gulfstream American AA-5A Crash Near Lakeview, Oregon (N26837)

Accident Overview and Flight History On May 24, 2012, at approximately 1722 Pacific daylight time, a Gulfstream American AA-5A, registration N26837, impacted terrain approximately 40 miles northeast of Lakeview, Oregon. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight, conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, departed Lakeview County Airport about 27 minutes before the accident. The pilot's intended destination was a private airstrip near Hubler, Idaho, a route that typically required about two hours. No flight plan was filed. The wreckage was discovered on May 30 near the 6,500-foot level on the steep western slope of Hart Mountain within the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. Prior to the fatal flight, the pilot had departed the Hubler airstrip, landed at Lakeview to drop off two passengers, and then departed again. GPS data indicated that after leaving Lakeview, the aircraft initially followed a direct path toward Hubler. Near Plush Lake, the pilot made a 90-degree left turn, flew over the lake, and then turned right to follow the west side of the Hart Mountain ridge. Approximately five minutes after passing Plush Lake, the pilot initiated a 180-degree left turn. Following the turn, the groundspeed increased to about 158 knots before rapidly decreasing to 45 knots over 10 seconds. The aircraft then made two nearly 90-degree turns, with the last GPS data point recorded at 21 knots three seconds after the final turn.