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NTSB Launches Probe After Cessna Crashes Into Townhomes

The aircraft's pilot, a passenger, and a person on the ground were killed.

The Cessna 421C pilot, a single passenger, and a townhome resident were killed in the August 31 crash.[Gresham Fire Department/Greg Renfro]
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Key Takeaways:

  • A Cessna 421C crashed in Fairview, Oregon, killing the 73-year-old pilot, a 79-year-old flight instructor, and a 75-year-old person on the ground.
  • The accident occurred during a post-maintenance flight from Portland-Troutdale Airport (KTTD) after the pilot reported "controllability issues" and violated an altitude restriction.
  • The crash into a community of townhomes ignited a large fire, destroying three homes, damaging others, and causing power outages for approximately 9,500 homes.
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is wrapping up its investigation into a deadly crash of a Cessna 421C on Saturday in Fairview, Oregon.

The aircraft’s pilot, a passenger, and a person on the ground were killed when the airplane crashed into a densely packed community of townhomes located southwest of Portland-Troutdale Airport (KTTD). 

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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