General Aviation Accidents: Common Occurrences in Oregon
General aviation accidents occur on a near daily basis in the U.S. According to the NTSB Dashboard, nationwide there were a total of 16,333 accidents between 2014 and 1/16/2025, an average of 1,484 each year. This translates into an average of 4 accidents every day. Many result in deaths and serious injuries to pilots, passengers and people on the ground. Most occur in small general aviation aircraft flown by hobbyists, student and private pilots.
Washington and Yamhill Counties and surrounding jurisdictions are often subjected to hundreds of aircraft circling and looping over their homes and neighborhoods. A significant number of these aircraft fly at dangerously low altitudes while practicing stalls and other training maneuvers. Adversely impacted residents have a right to be concerned when they hear aircraft targeting their communities.
Oregon airports also generate relentless noise, lead emissions and pollution while contributing to global warming. As such the aviation industry poses a threat to public health, the environment, and biological diversity.
Photo - Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue
Family Files Lawsuit Against Hillsboro Aero Academy, Ascend Flight Academy, Alaska Airlines, and Horizon for the Untimely Death of Their Son
The opening paragraphs of a 1/17/2025 Oregonian/OregonLive article by Zane Sparling, Family of Student Pilot Who Died in Plane Crash Seeks $27M from Hillsboro Flight School, Alaska Airlines appear below. The accident occurred shortly after the aircraft departed from the Hillsboro Airport to engage in a training session.
A lawsuit lays the blame for a fatal 2023 plane crash in Newberg on the employers of an inexperienced flight instructor who allegedly stalled the craft, killing himself and a student pilot and seriously injuring another trainee with them.
The suit was filed Monday by the family of Lakeridge High graduate Barrett Bevacqua, who was just 20 when the twin-engine Piper Seminole he was learning to fly plummeted more than 5,000 feet into a home about 6:45 p.m. on Oct. 3, 2023.
Seated beside him was flight instructor Michele Cavallotti, who the suit says was employed by Hillsboro Aero Academy and Ascend Pilot Academy. Alaska Airlines and subsidiary Horizon Air operate Ascend as a recruitment tool. Ascend partners with Hillsboro Aero Academy locally as a base of operations, the suit says.
Cavallotti and Bevacqua died in the crash, while student pilot Emily Hurd suffered serious bone fractures and other trauma but survived.
To read the article in full click here.
To listen to a 1/17/2025 KGW News report, Family of Student Pilot Killed in Newberg Crash Files $27 Million Wrongful Death Lawsuit (2 minutes 8 seconds) click here.
To view a KOIN 6 news YouTube report on the lawsuit click here.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Preliminary Report on the Fatal Crash
Per the NTSB,
"A representative from the operator reported that, 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 flight in his multi engine training program. They added that it is common for the first multi engine training flight to include slow flight, power off stalls, power on stalls, accelerated stalls, Minimum control airspeed (VMC) demonstration, emergency maneuvers, and steep turns."
The full text of the NTSB Preliminary report is available here. The final report has not yet been issued.
Take Action
Year after year, session after session, the Oregon Legislature directs millions of taxpayer dollars to support general aviation airports, flight schools, private pilots and jet owners but asks for no safety or environmental improvements in return.Call your state legislators. Tell them to stop using public money to subsidize and promote toxic, dangerous General Aviation airports and flight activity. Demand they take action to protect your right to a quiet, safe and livable environment.
Below are some specific examples of catastrophic Oregon general aviation accidents, along with contact information for the state legislators who should be motivated to require the general aviation industry to improve its safety procedures and to protect their constituents.
Hillsboro's Deadly 2006 Airshow Crash
The Hillsboro Airport (HIO) is located in districts represented by Sen. Janeen Sollman and Rep. Nathan Sosa, the same districts where during the 2006 airshow, a 73 year old pilot perished when his aircraft came crashing down on a residential neighborhood. One house was completely destroyed and several others sustained damage. The accident ignited a fire that sent dark billowing clouds of toxic smoke into the air. An NBC report, on the accident, Small Plane Crashes into Oregon Neighborhood can be accessed here.
Legislative Contacts
Sen. Janeen Sollman - sen.janeensollman@oregonlegislature.gov 503-986-1715
Rep. Nathan Sosa - rep.nathansosa@oregonlegislature.gov 503-986-1430
Co-Chairs of the the Joint Committee on Transportation
The Co-Chairs of the the Joint Committee on Transportation are Sen. Chris Gorsek and Rep. Susan McLain.
Sen. Gorsek's district includes Gresham, Fairview, Troutdale and Wood Village.
Deadly Fairview Plane Crash
Fairview is where on 8/31/2024, within minutes of departing from the Troutdale Airport, a Cessna twin-engine Golden Eagle crashed into a residential neighborhood. Troutdale Airport is a Port of Portland owned and operated general aviation airport that primarily serves recreational pilots and flight students.
Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion followed by billowing plumes of smoke as the aircraft collided with power lines, burst into flames and crashed into a row of eight townhouses. A 75 year woman, Barbara McDonald, who was sleeping in her home at the time, was killed.
Nine thousand residents were left without power. At least 4 of the homes were rendered unlivable. An Associated Press article stated, "The plane knocked over a pole and power lines as it went down, causing a separate brush fire in a nearby field, according to the sheriff's office. The plane was split into multiple parts as it crashed in the residential area."
The 73-year-old pilot and 79-year-old flight instruction (whose flight instructor certificate had expired more than two years earlier), both perished. For additional information see this 9/6/2024 Oregonian article.
Rep. McLain's district includes West Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Cornelius, areas that are subjected to relentless air traffic from pilots engaging in repetitive training activities over the homes and properties of local residents.
Fatal 2009 Hillsboro Aviation Helicopter Crash Near Forest Grove
There have also been a number of aircraft accidents over this area including a 2009 crash involving a Hillsboro Aviation (now Hillsboro Aero Academy) flight instructor and student pilot who perished when their Robinson training helicopter crashed. The NTSB Final Report identified "the flight crew's failure to maintain adequate main rotor speed while maneuvering, which resulted in a main rotor blade stall and an uncontrolled descent into terrain."
Legislative Contacts
Senator Chris Gorsek - sen.chrisgorsek@oregonlegislature.gov 503-986-1725
Rep. Susan McLain - rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov 503-986-1429
Yamhill County State Legislators
Like Western Washington County, the skies over Yamhill County are frequently deluged with flight training students from Hillsboro Aero Academy, Twin Oaks and other flight training schools. Newberg, the location of the fatal crash that prompted the lawsuit discussed above, is located in this jurisdiction.
2010 Hillsboro Aviation Midair Collision
In 2010, a Piper Seminole registered to Hillsboro Aviation (now Hillsboro Aero Academy), was involved in a midair collision. According to an Oregonian report, Champoeg Midair Collision Was Second Fatal Crash in 2 years for Hillsboro Aviation, the accident "involved a twin-engine plane colliding with a smaller craft. The collision broke the smaller Beechcraft Bonanza in half, sending its pilot, 58-year-old Stephen L. Watson, to his death."
"At least two witnesses told investigators that the larger Piper Seminole, registered to Hillsboro Aviation, was reportedly executing training maneuvers, making a series of rapid ascents and descents shortly after 4 p.m. Those witnesses said the Piper Seminole made a rapid descent and struck the top of the smaller plane..."
The Oregonian article also spoke of allegations that Hillsboro Aviation had a history of "performing improper repairs, deliberately falsifying maintenance records and recklessly flying a helicopter under the Interstate 5 and I-205 bridges over the Columbia River in 2008."
2015 Precision Aviation Training Flight Fatalities
A 2015 Yamhill County helicopter crash also prompted lawsuits. As noted in a KATU2 report Families of Men Killed in Helicopter Crash File Lawsuits Against Flight Training Company.
"Student pilot 29-year-old Kristian Blackwell and his instructor, 31-year-old Anthony Gallerani, both died on July 1, 2015 in a crash during a routine night training flight.
About 15 minutes into a 'night orientation' training flight, the 2004 Schweizer 300c helicopter went down in a field near the Chehalem Airpark and Precision Aviation Training – the company that owned the helicopter. Gallerani was flying the helicopter.
Attorneys representing Blackwell's family filed a lawsuit May 22 against Precision Aviation Training seeking more than $8 million in compensation.
The lawsuit claims that Gallerani became a certified flight instructor just 40 days before that night orientation flight. The suit further alleges that the company was negligent by letting 'an inexperienced instructor' fly with Blackwell.
Family members of Gallerani filed a suit on June 1 that claims the company was negligent in hiring staff that was adequately trained and supervised to perform helicopter inspections and maintenance, which ultimately caused the crash."
Legislative Contacts
Senator Aaron Woods - sen.aaronwoods@oregonlegislature.gov 503-986-1713
Rep. Courtney Neron - rep.courtneyneron@oregonlegislature.gov 503-986-1426
Scappoose Airport Flight Training Fatality
The Scappoose Airport has a long history of aviation accidents, one of which occurred on 8/31/2013 when a 59 year old student pilot with less than 27 hours of flight time perished while performing training maneuvers. According to the NTSB Final Report, "The student pilot intended to perform a series of high-speed taxi tests and 'crow hops' in the single-seat gyroplane...Most of the gyroplane's structure was consumed in post impact fire...The student pilot had very limited flight experience and began his flight training in a fixed wing airplane the year prior. He was not approved for and had not conducted solo flight in the accident gyroplane or any other aircraft."
Rep. Darcey Edwards was recently elected to represent residents living in communities frequently degraded by aviation activity from HIO, Scappoose and surrounding airports. Her district includes Banks and North Plains in Washington County, Sauvie Island in Multnomah County, as well as Scappoose and St. Helens in Columbia County.
Sen. Suzanne Weber represents Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook Counties as well as parts of Washington, Multnomah and Yamhill Counties.
Legislative Contacts
Rep. Darcey Edwards - rep.darceyedwards@oregonlegislature.gov 503-986-1431
Sen. Suzanne Weber - sen.suzanneweber@oregonlegislature.gov 503-986-1716
If you're not sure who your legislators are you can find out by typing in your address here.
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