History of Flight
On October 3, 2023, about 1847 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180, N8360K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Newberg, Oregon. The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction were fatally injured; a pilot-rated rear-seated passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
The pilot receiving instruction had recently obtained a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating, and the accident flight was his first multi-engine training flight. The pilot-rated passenger had recently completed ground training for her multi-engine rating and was invited to observe the session. During the flight, the passenger observed maneuvers including slow flight, emergency descent, steep turns, stalls, and a Vmc demonstration. During the Vmc demonstration, the stall warning sounded, and the airplane almost immediately went inverted to the left. The pilot receiving instruction attempted to stop the spin, then asked the flight instructor to take control, which he did. The pilot receiving instruction then asked if he should run a checklist, and the flight instructor replied "yes." In the final seconds, the passenger realized they would not recover.
ADS-B data showed the airplane departed Portland-Hillsboro Airport (HIO) at 0118:21 and climbed to various altitudes, performing turns. The last recorded ADS-B target was at 0146:38, located about 50 ft northwest of the accident site at an altitude of 525 ft. Multiple witnesses near the accident site reported the airplane pitched downward and entered a near-vertical descent, with some describing it as "spinning" or "spiraling."
Aircraft and Engine Data
The airplane was equipped with a J. P. Instruments EDM-960 engine monitor. The data from the accident flight, lasting 48 minutes and 48 seconds, showed engine parameters. Key data points include: at 18:44:50, left and right RPM were 2358 and 2366, manifold pressure (MAP) 22.5 and 22.4 inHg, fuel flow 10.4 and 10.2 gph. At 18:45:26, left RPM dropped to 1495 and right to 2639, left MAP 4.5 and right 24.1 inHg, fuel flow 1.7 and 10.4 gph. The last recorded data at 18:46:20 showed left RPM 0, right RPM 497, left MAP 26.5, right MAP 12.2 inHg, fuel flow 1.2 and 5.5 gph.
Wreckage and Impact
The airplane impacted a single-story residential structure, coming to rest in a near-vertical attitude on a heading of about 285° magnetic at an elevation of 249 ft msl. No visible ground scars were observed. All major structural components were within about 10 ft of the main wreckage. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engines revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Flight control continuity was established; separations were consistent with overload or recovery process.
Additional Information
According to the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook, Vmc is the minimum control speed with the critical engine inoperative. In a Vmc demonstration, power is reduced on one engine while the other is advanced, and a bank is established toward the operating engine. The handbook states that upon recognition of uncontrollable yaw or stall symptoms, the pilot should retard the operating engine throttle and lower the pitch attitude.
Medical and Pathological Information
Autopsies of the flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction, performed by the Oregon State Medical Examiner, determined the cause of death as blunt force injuries due to a plane crash. Toxicology testing found no drugs of abuse.