Owyhee Airport: Owyhee, Oregon

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The pilot completed 3-4 water ski runs (a maneuver accomplished by setting the aircraft's parking brake, touching down on the water, and skiing on the main landing gear tires) and was transitioning to the airport for a full-stop landing. The pilot reported that when the airplane touched down he felt the right main tire drag and initially attributed it to the soft runway condition; however, the airplane's tail "came up" and the airplane nosed over. The pilot later reported that he failed to release the parking brake after completing the maneuvers and inadvertently landed with the brake set. The airplane was equipped with an AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint (AAIR) system, which did not inflate/deploy during the accident sequence. Post accident examination and testing of the system revealed no anomalies that would have prevented the system from functioning properly; and it is believed that the airplane did not sustain sufficient g-forces during the accident sequence to activate the system.

On August 07, 2009, about 1200 mountain daylight time, a Navion A, N4898K, was destroyed during an in-flight breakup near Adrian, Oregon. The pilot, who had recently purchased the airplane, was operating it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and two passengers were killed. The cross-country personal flight departed the Jerome Country Airport, Jerome, Idaho, about 1030, with a planned final destination of Ilwaco, Washington. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area surrounding the accident site; no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with a Safety Board investigator, the pilot's uncle stated that the pilot was flying himself and his brother and father to Ilwaco for a weekend fishing trip. The flight departed from a private landing strip in Idaho to Jerome, where they added 35.6 gallon of fuel.

Preliminary recorded radar data covering the area of the accident was supplied by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The radar data was analyzed for the time frame and proximity to the anticipated flight track of the airplane en route from Jerome.

The radar data consisted of approximately equidistant primary radar return from Jerome heading west to Murphy, Idaho. The returns continued west for several miles followed by an 180-degree course reversal. The track then diverted northeast for about 15 miles, and then continued in the westerly direction for about 10 miles until temporarily disappearing. The returns resumed after about 4 miles and made a right 360-degree turn. The accident site was located within that radar return circle.

The closest weather facility was near Owyhee Ridge, Oregon, about 13 miles from the accident site. At 1141, it recorded a temperature of 49 degrees Fahrenheit and a dew point of 49 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature and dew point both lowered to 48 degrees Fahrenheit at 1211. Overcast cloud conditions at 2,900 feet agl were also reported.

The accident site was located in the eastern canyon of Succor Creek, about 25 nautical mile (nm) south of Adrian. The main wreckage was located at an estimated 43 degrees 26.389 minutes north latitude and 117 degrees 05.158 minutes west longitude, at an elevation of about 3,900 feet mean sea level (msl).

The wreckage debris was scattered over an estimated 1,000-foot area of hilly terrain. At the far south premise of the debris field were large sections of the right wing, with the far north area containing the engine and nose landing wheel. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination. Updated on Aug 17 2009 4:51PM