Piper PA-24-250 N6967P

Summary

On 14 May 2010 at about 14:18 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 registered N6967P, operated by Sheldon Arnett, was involved in an accident near Redmond, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 May 2010 at 14:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Redmond, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Roberts Field Airport (RDM)

Coordinates

44.2539, -121.1497

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-250

Registration

N6967P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Sheldon Arnett

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Redmond → Burns

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10FA239

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall and collision with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness who was located in a vehicle adjacent to the accident site reported that while conducting a routine daily runway inspection, he observed the airplane in a near vertical attitude above the departure end of the active runway. The witness estimated that the airplane was about 100 to 200 feet above the ground when it performed a 360-degree roll and stalled. It then entered a nose-low attitude, made another 360-degree roll, and descended below a tree line. Another witness reported that he observed the airplane depart the active runway and initiate a normal climb. As the airplane reached the departure end of the runway it entered an abrupt climb at an approximate 90-degree angle. The witness further stated that the airplane climbed for approximately 200 feet, nosed over, and descended into the ground. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no pre impact mechanical malfunctions. Toxicology tests of post-mortem samples from the pilot detected Amlodipine, a prescription medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure. The medication typically does not have any adverse effects, and is routinely approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.