What happened
On September 2, 2025, at approximately 12:45 Pacific daylight time, a Gulfstream Aerospace G-V, registration N820MS, was involved in an accident near Portland, Oregon. The aircraft was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight.
After landing at Portland International Airport (PDX), the flight crew taxied the aircraft to a fixed-base operator to refuel and disembark two passengers. Following the boarding of a new passenger and the completion of a preflight inspection, the crew began engine start procedures. During the start of the number two engine, the pilot observed a low hydraulic oil pressure indication on the gauge.
In an attempt to address the issue, the pilot activated the power transfer unit (PTU). Upon activation of the PTU, the nose landing gear retracted, causing the forward fuselage to impact the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the forward pressure bulkhead. The crew performed an emergency engine shutdown, and all occupants—the pilot, co-pilot, and one passenger—were not injured.
The investigation
The aircraft was secured for further examination following the event.